The Kwara State Government has confirmed the release of 176 residents, primarily women and children, who were abducted from the communities of Woro and Nuku in the Kaiama Local Government Area.
The victims, who had been in captivity for six months, were freed following a series of coordinated security operations.
Olayinka Fafoluyi, Media Aide to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, announced the development in a Facebook post on Wednesday. He confirmed the release, bringing an end to the prolonged ordeal for the families of the victims.
The release follows a wave of violence that struck the region earlier. In February 2026, armed groups, identified as Boko Haram militants by President Bola Tinubu, attacked Woro and Nuku, resulting in 75 deaths and the subsequent abduction of many residents. The communities were targeted after locals reportedly refused to submit to extremists preaching what the governor described as a “strange doctrine,” with gunmen on motorcycles firing indiscriminately and razing homes.
The rescue mission aligns with ongoing efforts by the Nigerian government to combat terrorism in the region. President Bola Tinubu previously condemned the attacks and ordered the deployment of a military battalion to the Kaiama area as part of “Operation Savannah Shield” to protect vulnerable communities.
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