Relief swept across Kwara State on Wednesday as the state government announced the release of 176 residents who were abducted during the deadly attacks on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area on February 3, 2026, after spending six months in captivity.
The development was disclosed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Communications, Ibraheem Abdullateef, who confirmed that the victims had regained their freedom following security operations.
The Kwara State Government also confirmed the release in a post on its official Facebook page, expressing gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the security agencies and all those involved in securing the victims’ freedom.
The government stated:
“Alhamdulillah and kudos to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, security forces, and everyone involved in this great achievement. We are grateful!”
While celebrating the successful rescue, the government said additional details regarding the operation and the condition of the freed victims would be made available later.
The victims were abducted when heavily armed attackers, believed to be Boko Haram-linked terrorists, launched coordinated assaults on the Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area on February 3. The attacks, which lasted several hours, claimed the lives of more than 200 residents, left many others injured, destroyed homes and businesses, and displaced scores of people, making it one of the deadliest incidents in Kwara State’s history.
Before their release, relatives of the abductees had repeatedly appealed to the Federal Government, the Kwara State Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue their loved ones. Community members also staged peaceful protests after the victims spent nearly six months in captivity, while reports indicated that residents had raised over ₦155 million in an unsuccessful bid to secure their release.
The successful release of the 176 abducted residents has brought relief to their families and the affected communities, ending six months of uncertainty and anguish. Authorities are expected to provide further information on the rescue operation and the victims’ welfare in due course.
