13 Woro Kidnap Victims Still Missing After 163 Are Rescued in Kwara

A major security operation that led to the rescue of 163 residents abducted from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State has been overshadowed by concerns over 13 people who remain unaccounted for.

The National Chairman of the Kaiama Development Association (KDA), Yakubu Salihu, disclosed that 176 women and children were originally taken during the February 3 attack on Woro. According to him, only 163 of the abductees have so far been confirmed among those released, leaving a shortfall of 13 people.

The mass rescue was part of a coordinated security operation in the Kainji Lake National Park forest. The operation resulted in the recovery of 308 kidnapped persons, including the 163 Woro victims and another 145 people abducted in neighbouring Niger State.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended the security agencies involved in what was described as Nigeria’s largest single-day rescue operation. The president attributed the outcome to improved coordination and intelligence-led action by the country’s security agencies.

The Woro victims had spent about six months in captivity following the February attack, which community sources said claimed more than 100 lives and resulted in the abduction of 176 residents. The prolonged captivity has left the community anxious to establish the whereabouts of every person taken during the incident.

Salihu said the discrepancy in the figures was a major concern for the community. He explained that both information available at the time of the abduction and accounts from the victims indicated that 176 people had been taken, yet only 163 were among those released.

The community leader said it was not immediately clear whether the 13 missing persons remained in captivity, died while being held, or whether there had been an error in the original number of abductees. He therefore called on the security agencies to establish what happened to the missing victims.

The rescued victims are reportedly receiving medical attention, with arrangements being made for their return to Kwara State and subsequent reunification with their families. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had earlier said the victims were expected to return to the state for further medical care and support.

The prolonged ordeal also produced difficult personal circumstances for some of the women among the captives. Community representatives said some women became pregnant during the period of captivity, while at least one reportedly gave birth before the victims regained their freedom.

Meanwhile, the Kaiama Development Association has renewed its call for stronger and more permanent security arrangements in the area. The association has particularly advocated the establishment of a Nigerian Army battalion in Kaiama, arguing that improved security presence is necessary to protect vulnerable communities and prevent a recurrence of mass abductions.

While the rescue of 163 Woro residents represents a major breakthrough for the affected community, the fate of the remaining 13 continues to generate concern. For families still waiting for answers, the rescue operation will not be considered complete until authorities establish the whereabouts of every person taken during the February attack.