Police reject claims of 176 residents abducted in Kwara attack

Kwara State Police Commissioner Adekimi Ojo has dismissed reports circulating that 176 residents were abducted during a recent terrorist attack in the Kaiama Local Government Area. Addressing journalists in Ilorin, Ojo clarified that while security agencies acknowledge that some individuals were taken by the attackers, the widely reported figure of 176 is not supported by official records.

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Regarding the claim that 176 people were kidnapped from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area, I honestly do not know the source of that figure because it did not come from any security agency or operative.

The clarification comes after nearly six months since the attack on Woro and Nuku communities, during which relatives, community leaders, and traditional authorities appealed for intensified rescue efforts, citing the alleged abduction of 176 people. The police commissioner suggested the figure may have originated from a video showing abducted persons claiming to be over a hundred.

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I believe the figure started circulating after a video surfaced showing a group of abducted persons who were made to claim they were over a hundred in number.

Ojo noted that residents from Kaiama who viewed the footage could only identify about 10 individuals, including the wife of a traditional ruler. "Based on that, I cannot confirm that 176 people were actually abducted from Woro," he stated. He emphasized that the police would not rely on figures propagated by the terrorists and assured the public that concerted efforts are underway to secure the release of all captives.

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I recall that people from Kaiama said they could recognise only about 10 persons in the video, including the wife of the traditional ruler. Based on that, I cannot confirm that 176 people were actually abducted from Woro.

Recent security operations in neighboring Oyo State have redirected focus toward suspected terrorist bases in the Borgu area. Intelligence suggests that extremist groups, including Lakurawa, Ansaru, and Boko Haram, have established havens in this region, prompting increased security concentration. Ojo assured that these terrorists are not currently domiciled within Kwara State.

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The story of 176 abductees is one being peddled by the bandits themselves, and I cannot confirm it. What I can assure you is that concerted efforts are being made to secure the release of whoever is currently in the hands of the bandits.