No fewer than 176 abducted Kwara residents have regained their freedom months after they were kidnapped during the February 3, 2026 attack on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.
The Kwara State Government announced the development on Wednesday in a post shared on its official Facebook page.
“Alhamdulillah and kudos to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, security forces and everyone who played a role in this huge feat. We are grateful,” the statement read.
The 176 abducted Kwara residents were taken captive when Boko Haram-linked extremists reportedly stormed the rural communities of Woro and Nuku on motorcycles, launching a coordinated attack that lasted several hours.
The assault, regarded as one of the deadliest attacks in Kwara State’s history, reportedly claimed more than 200 lives, injured several others, destroyed homes and businesses, and displaced many residents.
The release of the 176 abducted Kwara residents marks a significant development in efforts to address the aftermath of the attack, which sparked widespread concern over insecurity in parts of the state.
BACKSTORY:
On February 3, 2026, suspected Boko Haram-linked militants launched a coordinated attack on the communities of Woro and Nuku in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. The attackers, who reportedly arrived on motorcycles, killed more than 200 people, injured many others, razed homes and businesses, and abducted scores of residents.
The incident was widely described as one of the worst security attacks ever recorded in Kwara State, raising fresh concerns about the spread of insurgent activities beyond Nigeria’s North-East region. The attack also forced many residents to flee their communities, creating a humanitarian crisis in the affected areas.
Since the incident, security agencies and the Kwara State Government have intensified efforts to secure the release of those abducted while strengthening security across vulnerable communities. The announcement that 176 abducted Kwara residents have regained their freedom marks a major breakthrough, although concerns remain about restoring normalcy and rebuilding the affected communities.
