Boko Haram Terrorists Release Video of 176 Abducted Kwara Residents

Video of 176 Abducted Kwara Residents

Boko Haram Terrorists Release Video of 176 Abducted Kwara Residents

Suspected members of Boko Haram, formally known as Jama’atu Ahlissunnah Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, have circulated a video showing 176 abducted residents allegedly taken from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The disturbing footage, which has since sparked outrage and fear across the state, reportedly shows dozens of women and children seated in rows in an open area, surrounded by armed men. Among them were a nursing mother and several minors. Some of the children appeared half-clothed, while many of the captives looked visibly distressed, suggesting harsh conditions in captivity.

In the video, one of the armed men interrogates the captives, asking where they were abducted. Responding in Hausa, three women — including a nursing mother — stated that they were kidnapped from Woro community in Kaiama LGA.

During the recording, the terrorist accused the Kwara State Government of downplaying the scale of the abduction. According to him, while officials reportedly claimed that between 20 and 30 persons were kidnapped, the group insisted it was holding 176 victims.

“The Kwara State government lied to Nigeria and to the whole world,” the gunman alleged in the footage.

Background to the Attack

The video emerged weeks after a deadly attack on Woro community on February 4, 2026, when suspected terrorists stormed the area in a coordinated assault. Local sources reported that several residents were killed during the invasion, including family members of the Emir of Woro, the Chief Imam, and education officials.

The traditional ruler, Alhaji Saliu Bio Umar, was reported missing following the attack, fuelling concerns that he may have been abducted during the raid. The assailants reportedly attacked both residents and travellers passing through the community, killing indiscriminately before retreating.

Security analysts have linked the attackers to extremist elements believed to have operational ties across the Sahel region, raising concerns about the possible expansion of insurgent networks into parts of North-Central Nigeria previously considered relatively stable.

Rising Security Concerns in Kwara

The incident has heightened anxiety across Kaiama LGA and surrounding districts, particularly in Kwara North, where residents say rural communities remain vulnerable due to limited security presence and difficult terrain.

While security agencies have reportedly intensified surveillance and deployment in affected areas, there has been no official statement confirming rescue operations or negotiations regarding the abducted victims.

Community leaders have called on the Federal Government and security forces to urgently intervene to secure the safe release of the captives and prevent further attacks.

The emergence of the video has once again drawn national attention to the evolving security challenges in Kwara State and the need for coordinated efforts to curb the spread of extremist violence beyond the North-East region.