We Contributed Over N155m, But Terrorists Rejected It — Families of 176 Kwara Abductees Lament

We Contributed Over N155m, But Terrorists Rejected It — Families of 176 Kwara Abductees Lament

Families of 176 residents abducted from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have appealed to the Federal Government, the state government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue their loved ones, who have spent nearly six months in captivity.

The families said more than N155 million had been raised within the affected communities as ransom for the abductees, only for the terrorists to reject the money.

Speaking on behalf of the families and residents on Thursday night, Dr Abdul Ibrahim said the money was raised through community donations, personal savings and the sale of valuables by desperate relatives who hoped to bring the captives home.

“We contributed more than N155 million because we believed it would bring our people home. Instead, the money was rejected,” Ibrahim said.

He said the abductors had insisted that the matter should be handled by the governments of Kwara and Niger states because the victims were from the two states.

According to him, repeated efforts to resolve the crisis through negotiation have failed, while protests and attempts to establish direct communication with the terrorists have yielded no breakthrough.

Ibrahim said the situation had become increasingly worrying following fresh threats allegedly issued by the abductors.

He further alleged that the terrorists had threatened to kill some of the captives and were forcing some female victims into marriage, a development he said had deepened the anxiety among families.

“We have done all we can, but there is no progress. We have reached the point where only a decisive government intervention can save these people,” he said.

He called on security agencies to mount a sustained operation to rescue the victims, adding that the recent rescue of abducted persons in neighbouring Oyo State had renewed hope among the affected families.

However, the National President of the Kaiama Development Association presented a different account of the ransom negotiations, saying no payment had been made because discussions with the abductors were still ongoing.

The village head, Alhaji Salihu Umar Bio, confirmed that the community had made efforts to raise money for the release of the victims.

He said, however, that the terrorists had maintained since the abduction on February 3, 2026, that they wanted to deal directly with the government.

The conflicting positions have left the families in a painful waiting game, with their relatives still in captivity and no clear indication of when they will be released.

As the days turn into months, the families say they are running out of options and are looking to the authorities for decisive action that will bring the abducted residents back home.