Kwara State Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has received 163 residents of Woro community who were rescued after spending months in captivity following a deadly attack in the state earlier this year.
The victims were among 308 Nigerians rescued in a major security operation announced by President Bola Tinubu. The operation also freed 145 people abducted in neighboring Niger State and was described by the president as the country’s largest single-day rescue operation.
The 163 Kwara residents were abducted during the Feb. 3, 2026, attack on Woro, a community in Kaiama Local Government Area. The assault was one of the most serious security incidents recorded in the state this year, leaving residents dead and forcing others into captivity.
AbdulRazaq received the rescued residents in Ilorin after they were brought out of captivity. The state government said the victims were being given medical attention as authorities worked to help them recover from the physical and emotional effects of their ordeal.
The governor said the rescue was a major development for the affected families and the state, while thanking the security agencies involved in the operation. The details of how the operation was carried out have not been fully disclosed, although authorities described it as an intelligence led effort.
The rescue has brought relief to families who had spent months waiting for news of their relatives. For many of those who returned, however, the recovery process is only beginning after a prolonged period away from their homes and communities.
Reports from Woro indicate that not all those taken during the attack survived. A community leader told Premium Times that 13 people remained unaccounted for after the rescue, while other reports said some abductees died while in captivity.
The Woro attack renewed concerns about the spread of violent extremist and criminal activity into parts of Nigeria’s North-Central region. Kwara, which borders several states affected by insecurity, has faced periodic attacks and kidnappings, although the scale of the February incident shocked residents and authorities.
President Tinubu praised the security forces for the operation and said the rescue demonstrated the importance of intelligence sharing and coordination among security agencies. He also commended the personnel involved in freeing the hostages.
For the rescued residents, returning home marks an important step after months of uncertainty. The Kwara government now faces the task of supporting their medical and psychological recovery while working with security agencies to prevent another attack on vulnerable communities.
The rescue also highlights the continuing challenge Nigeria faces in tackling kidnapping and terrorism. While the release of the 163 Woro victims offers relief to their families, the unresolved cases and the wider security situation show that sustained efforts will be needed to protect rural communities and prevent residents from being taken captive again.
