176 Captives: Kaiama Youths Protest Prolonged Abduction of Women,Children

​Woro Community Siege Enters Third Month as Families Decry Government Silence

​KAIAMA — Tensions reached a boiling point in Kwara State on Friday as hundreds of youths and women took to the streets to protest the continued captivity of 176 residents, mostly women and children, abducted from Woro community over two months ago.

​The mass demonstration, led by the Kaiama Youths Advocacy Group, saw protesters storming the Local Government Secretariat following the release of a harrowing viral video. In the footage, the abductees—who have been held since a brutal February 4th raid—were seen pleading with the government for their lives, sparking fresh outrage across the state.

​A Community Under Siege

​The Woro crisis began in early February when gunmen, suspected to be jihadist militants, launched a coordinated assault that left over 200 people dead and several buildings, including the traditional palace, in ruins. Since then, the 176 captives have remained in the hands of their captors, with reports suggesting a deadlock in negotiations over a massive ransom demand.

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​Addressing journalists at the secretariat, the group’s spokesperson, Toheeb Omotayo, described the situation as a “grave security breach” and a failure of the institutions meant to protect the Nigerian people.

​”For families watching their loved ones beg for help, silence from authorities feels like abandonment,” the group stated. “Commitment must translate into coordinated action, not just rhetoric.”

​Protests Spread to Ilorin

​While youths occupied Kaiama, the women’s wing of the advocacy group took the protest to the state capital, Ilorin. Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Bring Back Our People” and “Kaiama Is Crying for Justice,” the women warned that the insecurity in Kwara North had reached a breaking point.

​The protesters vowed to resist any attempts to silence them for political reasons, asserting that “our lives are more important than any political arrangement.”

​Mourning the Fallen

​The day’s somber mood was deepened by the burial of five forest guards recently killed in the line of duty. The funeral rites (Janaiza) were held at the Emir’s Palace in Kaiama, serving as a stark reminder of the escalating risks faced by local security personnel and vigilantes attempting to secure the border forests.

​Proposed Solutions

​The advocacy group has presented a list of urgent demands to the Kwara State and Federal governments, including:

• ​Specialized Rescue Operations: Immediate deployment of units to Woro with defined timelines.
• ​Local Security Strengthening: Better funding and intelligence support for local vigilantes.
• ​Border Patrols: Establishment of permanent rapid-response units in Kaiama’s border communities.
• ​Post-Release Support: Preparation of medical and psychological rehabilitation for the victims once freed.

​As of Friday evening, neither the State Government nor the Police Command had issued a fresh update regarding the viral video or specific rescue timelines, though authorities have previously maintained that “efforts are ongoing.”