Six Months After Devastating Attack, 176 Kwara Abductees Finally Freed

No fewer than 176 women and children abducted during the February 3, 2026, attack on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have regained their freedom.

The Kwara State Government confirmed their release on Wednesday in a post on its official Facebook page, describing the development as a major breakthrough after months of uncertainty over the victims’ fate.

In the statement, the government expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, security agencies and all those involved in securing the victims’ freedom.

“Alhamdulillah and kudos to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, security forces, and everyone who played a role in this huge feat. We are grateful,” the statement read.

The victims were abducted when suspected Boko Haram-linked terrorists invaded the Woro and Nuku communities on motorcycles in a coordinated assault that lasted for several hours.

The attack, regarded as one of the deadliest ever recorded in Kwara State, claimed the lives of more than 200 people, while many others sustained varying degrees of injuries. Scores of homes and businesses were also destroyed, forcing many residents to flee their communities.

Local vigilantes who attempted to repel the attackers were reportedly overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the insurgents. Some members of the vigilante group were said to have been trapped inside their office, which was subsequently set ablaze during the attack.

Although the state government did not disclose the circumstances surrounding the victims’ release, the development has brought relief to families and residents who had waited for months for news of their loved ones.