The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has disclosed that the 163 victims rescued from captivity following the February terrorist attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of the State are receiving medical care.
The Governor, in a statement announcing the successful rescue of the victims, said they were undergoing comprehensive medical treatment at a federal health facility and would return to Kwara after completing their medical procedures for rehabilitation and reintegration.
“The rescued citizens are currently receiving comprehensive medical care and support at a federal health facility. We will be glad to receive them in the state upon the completion of their medical procedures so that we can also offer necessary support to ease their reintegration process,” AbdulRazaq said.
The Governor announced that the victims were rescued from the Kainji Lake National Park forest through a coordinated operation by security agencies.
He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as his decisive intervention in securing the release of the captives, noting that about 145 abductees from neighbouring Niger State also regained their freedom during the same operation.
AbdulRazaq also commended the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force for their gallantry, resilience and strategic collaboration that led to the successful rescue.
He urged residents to continue providing useful security information to security agencies to prevent future attacks, expressing optimism that the deployment of additional troops and military hardware, as well as the establishment of new military formations in the state, would strengthen the fight against terrorists.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the Kaiama Development Association (KDA), Yakubu Salihu, said only 163 of the 176 women and children abducted during the February 3 attack had been released, leaving 13 persons still unaccounted for.
“One hundred and seventy-six were taken away; only 163 were released, leaving 13 people still missing. Where are the others?” he asked.
Salihu also disclosed that some of the pregnant women abducted by the terrorists delivered babies during the six months they spent in captivity.
According to him, the rescued victims, who are currently in Niger State, are expected back in Kwara on or before Saturday for further medical attention and resettlement.
He renewed the community’s appeal for the Federal Government to expedite the establishment of a permanent Nigerian Army battalion in Kaiama, saying inadequate security personnel had left communities vulnerable to repeated attacks.
“The Federal Government is working towards establishing a Nigerian Army battalion in our community. We are ready to provide a suitable location and every support needed to ensure the military settles in quickly and begins operations,” he said.
Salihu said a permanent military presence would improve surveillance, enhance emergency response and help prevent a recurrence of such attacks. He also called on the government to rehabilitate the poor road network linking Kaiama Local Government Area to improve security operations and economic activities.
Armed terrorists had invaded the Woro community on February 3, killing scores of residents and abducting 176 women and children in one of the deadliest attacks recorded in Kwara North this year. The rescue of 163 victims marks a major breakthrough, although concerns remain over the fate of the 13 people yet to be accounted for.
Meanwhile, the latest report has confirmed that the Woro and Yashikira kidnapped victims that were part of those released have arrived Ilorin and are now undergoing medical treatment.
