163 Woro Abductees Rescued After Six Months, 46 Hospitalized

After more than six months in captivity, 163 kidnap victims abducted from the Woro community in Kwara State have been returned and are receiving medical care, though several dozen of their fellow captives remain missing or died during the ordeal. The victims, mostly women and children, arrived in Ilorin late on August 6 after being transported from neighboring Niger State, where sustained military operations had secured their release.

They were received at the Nigerian Army's 2 Division headquarters at Sobi Barracks before being taken to an undisclosed location for initial screening and welfare procedures. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq officially received the group on August 7, confirming that 46 victims are currently hospitalized for medical attention. The governor described the February 3 attack on Woro as "sad" and "regrettable," while expressing gratitude that the rescue operation was successful.

The coordinated attack by armed terrorists on February 3 resulted in numerous deaths in the Kaiama Local Government community, with 176 people initially reported kidnapped. According to a state lawmaker, Hon. Saidu Baba-Ahmed, the 163 returnees include two women who were abducted...