Kwara Groups Demand Rescue of 176 Abductees, Warn of Worseni

The Kaiama Development Association and the Batombu Unity and Development Initiative have urged both the federal government and the Kwara State Government to urgently rescue the 176 persons abducted during the February 3 attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The groups warned that the worsening insecurity across Kaiama and Baruten LGAs could degenerate into a full-scale insurgency if urgent action is not taken.

Speaking on behalf of the groups during a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, the President of the KDA Abuja Branch, Alhaji Umar Gunu, observed that the security situation in the two local government areas had reached a critical stage, with more than 500 people reportedly killed since the beginning of 2026, thousands displaced and several communities repeatedly attacked by terrorists and armed bandits.

Gunu said the press conference became necessary because the communities could no longer remain silent while residents continued to suffer attacks, displacement and neglect.

“We have chosen to address you directly because our communities can no longer afford to remain silent and invisible. Today, however, we speak not only of neglect but of an unfolding humanitarian and security catastrophe that has devastated our communities,” he said.

Gunu noted that although Kaiama and Baruten account for more than half of Kwara State’s landmass and remain one of its most productive agricultural belts, the communities had suffered decades of neglect and remained the only two local government areas without direct road access to Ilorin, the state capital.

According to him, the poor road network has further compounded the security crisis by slowing the movement of security personnel while providing armed groups with opportunities to launch attacks and…