Kidnapped Kwara Villagers Beg Government for Rescue -

Fresh tension has gripped communities in Kwara State following the emergence of another video showing abducted villagers from Woro and surrounding areas in Kaiama Local Government Area, desperately pleading for government intervention.

The latest footage, which surfaced on Thursday, comes weeks after an earlier video released on February 14 sparked nationwide outrage.

The initial clip highlighted the scale of the February 3 attack on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities, where several residents were reportedly killed and many others abducted.

In the earlier footage, women and children believed to have been taken during the attack were seen seated in rows, surrounded by armed men who interrogated them in Hausa about their identities and origins.

Some elderly women confirmed they were from Woro, prompting widespread concern as families began identifying relatives among the captives.

The kidnappers had also used the video to challenge official figures, accusing authorities of downplaying the number of victims.

“They said those abducted were about 25 or 30. Let them look here,” one of the armed men said in Hausa, directing attention to the large group of captives.

In response, some of the women claimed they were as many as 174, while another part of the footage suggested the number could be as high as 176, raising fears that the true scale of the abduction was significantly higher than initially reported.

At the time, the Kwara State Government acknowledged the distress caused by the video and assured residents that efforts were underway to verify the identities of those abducted and intensify rescue operations.

However, the situation appears to have worsened with the release of a new video showing a larger group of abductees mostly women and children more than two months after the incident.

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In the latest footage, the victims appeared visibly weak, malnourished, and exhausted. Many wore dirty, worn-out clothes, suggesting prolonged hardship and deteriorating living conditions.

“We are begging you; this is our last opportunity,” a young woman said in English, her voice trembling. “We have been here since February 3. Please come to our rescue.”

Other captives echoed similar pleas, highlighting the presence of vulnerable individuals among them.

“We have small children with us, and some women are pregnant,” another victim said in Yoruba. “Please, Kwara State Government, Oyo State Government, help us. This is the last chance they gave us.”

In the background of the video, one of the armed men claimed responsibility for the abduction, stating that the captives were being allowed to speak so authorities could hear their appeals.

“We are the ones who kidnapped them. They have been begging us, and we have given them this opportunity so their government can hear from them,” he said.

Some victims also hinted at exposure to ideological teachings during captivity, raising concerns about possible indoctrination.

“They teach us things we did not know before,” one woman said. “But we are still begging you, please come and rescue us.”

As of the time of filing this report, the Kwara State Police Command had yet to respond to inquiries, as calls and messages to its spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, were unanswered.

The development has further heightened anxiety among residents, with many families still searching for missing relatives and awaiting concrete action from authorities.