‘We’ll Marry Beautiful Ones, Kill the Rest’ – Terrorists Reject N155m Ransom for 176 Kwara Captives

Nearly six months after 176 residents were abducted from Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, families of the captives have made a desperate appeal to the Federal Government, the Kwara State Government, and security agencies to intensify rescue efforts. The families alleged that terrorists rejected more than N155 million raised by the affected communities as ransom and have threatened to force some female captives into marriage while executing the remaining hostages. The attack occurred on February 3, 2026, when more than 100 heavily armed assailants launched a coordinated assault on the rural communities, leaving over 260 people dead, more than 30 houses burnt, and 176 residents abducted. The victims, most of whom are women, children, and nursing mothers, have remained in captivity despite months of negotiations and community efforts.

Speaking on behalf of the affected families, Dr. Abdul Ibrahim told BBC Hausa that community leaders and residents contributed more than N155 million through community donations, personal savings, and the sale of valuables in a desperate bid to secure the release of the captives. However, the terrorists allegedly refused to accept the money, leaving hundreds of families uncertain about the fate of their relatives. “We raised N155 million and took it to them, but they refused to accept it, saying it was not enough. We returned with the money and have not heard from our relatives since. We appeal to the Federal Government and the Kwara State Government to rescue them because there is nothing more we can do,” Ibrahim said. Ibrahim, who said he lost 10 relatives and still has 35 family members in captivity, added that repeated attempts to secure the release of the abductees through negotiations and public demonstrations had yielded no results. According to him, the kidnappers stated that the victims are from Kwara and Niger States and insisted that both governments should pool resources together. He alleged that the terrorists do not even want to talk to the families and have insisted on engaging only with government authorities.

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Fresh concerns emerged that the abductors had allegedly threatened to marry the “beautiful” female captives while executing the remaining hostages if their demands were not met. Speaking in an interview monitored on the BBC Hausa Service, Ibrahim said the threat had deepened fears among relatives. “They said they would marry the beautiful ones and kill the rest,” Ibrahim said, adding that the terrorists had refused to soften their position despite months of negotiations. The Dan Sardaukin Kaiama, Suleiman Bukata, urged the Federal Government and security agencies to replicate the operation that recently secured the rescue of abductees in neighbouring Oyo State by extending similar efforts to Kaiama. Bukata said the successful rescue in Oyo had rekindled hope among families in Kaiama, stressing that the people deserved the same level of commitment from the authorities. “No Nigerian community should be left to face this kind of tragedy alone. If people could be rescued elsewhere, our people should not be forgotten,” he said.

However, there are conflicting accounts regarding the ransom payment. The National President of the Kaiama Development Association (KDA) stated that “No payment has been made, although negotiation is still ongoing.” For his part, the Village Head, Alhaji Salihu Umar Bio, confirmed the efforts of the community towards the donation but said the terrorists have insisted on engaging only with the government since the incident occurred on February 3, 2026. The lawmaker representing the area in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Sa’idu Baba Ahmed, also appealed to the Federal Government to intensify efforts to rescue the captives, saying the prolonged wait had increased the suffering of the affected families.

The attack on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities was reportedly triggered after residents rejected attempts by the armed group to establish an extremist religious presence in the area. Survivors said the attackers, dressed in military-style uniforms and riding motorcycles, killed scores of residents, burnt homes and abducted dozens before fleeing. The incident underscores the growing insecurity in parts of North-Central Nigeria, where armed groups have increasingly carried out mass killings, kidnappings for ransom, and attacks on rural communities, despite ongoing security operations. Over 2,700 people were initially displaced following the February 3 attack, with many remaining in temporary shelters in neighbouring communities.