Suspected terrorists have reportedly demanded a ransom of N20 million for each of the 176 residents abducted from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, bringing the total demand to N3.52 billion, according to community sources familiar with the negotiations. The victims were kidnapped during a February 3, 2026 attack on the agrarian community.
Sources said the silence from authorities in recent weeks is linked to stalled negotiations between representatives of the state government and the terrorists, who are believed to be members of Boko Haram. According to a community insider, the government is currently unwilling to meet the ransom demand, creating a deadlock in the talks.
Residents also claim that security forces deployed to the area have not launched a forest operation to rescue the captives. Soldiers are reportedly stationed at a primary school in Woro rather than pursuing the kidnappers in the surrounding forests, raising concerns that authorities may ultimately rely on negotiation to secure the victims’ release.
Families of the abducted residents say the prolonged uncertainty has left them in deep distress. Relatives fear that some captives, including pregnant women and children, may have died due to harsh conditions in captivity, noting that they have received no new communication from the kidnappers for weeks.
The fears intensified after a video surfaced showing dozens of women and children allegedly among the abductees, many appearing distressed and poorly clothed. The attackers claimed in the footage that 176 people were kidnapped, contradicting earlier reports that only 20 to 30 residents were taken, while the state government says it is still working with security agencies to verify the identities of those in the video.
