Kwara groups demand rescue of 176 abductees, warn of worsening terrorism

Community groups in Kwara State are urgently calling for the rescue of 176 individuals abducted during an attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area on February 3rd. The Kaiama Development Association and the Batombu Unity and Development Initiative issued a stern warning that the deteriorating security situation in Kaiama and Baruten LGAs could escalate into a full-blown insurgency if immediate action is not taken.

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We have chosen to address you directly because our communities can no longer afford to remain silent and invisible. Today, however, we speak not only of neglect but of an unfolding humanitarian and security catastrophe that has devastated our communities.

Alhaji Umar Gunu, President of the KDA Abuja Branch, speaking on behalf of the groups, described the security situation in the two local government areas as critical. He stated that since the beginning of 2026, over 500 people have reportedly been killed, thousands displaced, and numerous communities repeatedly attacked by terrorists and armed bandits. Gunu emphasized that the press conference was necessary as residents could no longer endure the ongoing attacks, displacement, and neglect.

The groups pointed to decades of neglect and poor infrastructure as significant factors exacerbating the crisis. Kaiama and Baruten LGAs, despite comprising over half of Kwara State's landmass and being highly productive agricultural belts, lack direct road access to the state capital, Ilorin. This poor road network hinders the swift movement of security personnel, allowing armed groups to attack and retreat into surrounding forests with relative ease.

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Our poor road infrastructure has compounded this crisis. The deplorable condition of the roads isolates our communities and creates a significant operational advantage for terrorists.

"Our poor road infrastructure has compounded this crisis. The deplorable condition of the roads isolates our communities and creates a significant operational advantage for terrorists," Gunu stated. He added that while security forces struggle to reach affected areas, armed groups navigate the difficult terrain easily, enabling repeated strikes before help can arrive. The groups stressed that improved roads are now an urgent security imperative, not just a development issue.

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While security forces struggle to reach affected areas quickly, armed groups navigate the difficult terrain with relative ease, enabling them to strike repeatedly and retreat into the forests before help can arrive. Better roads are no longer simply a development issue; they are an urgent security imperative.

The attack on Woro and neighboring Nuku communities on February 3rd resulted in the deaths of over 200 residents and the abduction of more than 170 people, including women and children. Nearly six months later, families have received little information about their loved ones or evidence of sustained rescue efforts, deepening their distress.

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The attack on Woro remains one of the darkest chapters in our recent history. On the night of February 3, 2026, terrorists descended on Woro and neighbouring Nuku, killing well over 200 people and abducting more than 170 others, among them