Victims abducted during the deadly attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have arrived in Ilorin following their rescue after spending several months in captivity.
The rescued victims reached the Kwara State capital late Thursday night after regaining their freedom through sustained military operations and coordinated efforts by security agencies. They were transported from Niger State to the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division Nigerian Army headquarters at Sobi Barracks before being moved to an undisclosed location.
Some of the victims were immediately taken to hospital for medical treatment, while others are expected to receive psychological support and welfare assistance after enduring months in captivity.
The victims were among residents kidnapped when armed attackers invaded Woro community in February, killing scores of people and abducting many others into the surrounding forests. The attack sparked widespread outrage and prompted intensified security operations aimed at locating and rescuing those held hostage.
The rescued victims are expected to be formally handed over to AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who has been working with security agencies to secure their release.
Authorities are also expected to complete the verification of the rescued victims while providing medical care, trauma counselling and other support services to aid their recovery.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced that President Bola Tinubu welcomed the successful rescue of 308 abducted Nigerians from Kwara and Niger states.
According to Onanuga, 163 of those rescued were from Woro community, while 145 victims were rescued from Niger State.
The victims were freed during a coordinated security operation carried out in the Kainji Lake National Park forest involving the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services, intelligence agencies and the Nigeria Police Force.
The Presidency described the mission as the largest single-day rescue operation ever conducted in Nigeria.
The Woro attack occurred in February after terrorists reportedly threatened to invade the community when residents failed to attend a meeting they had announced.
The attackers subsequently burned homes, destroyed property and killed more than 150 people, while abducting a large number of residents. Although reports initially estimated that about 176 people were kidnapped, police later said that figure had not been officially verified.
Large sections of the community were reduced to rubble during the assault, forcing many residents to flee.
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Following the attack, President Tinubu condemned what he described as a “beastly attack” and ordered the deployment of additional military personnel to the area to restore security and rescue the abducted residents.
The President initially attributed the attack to Boko Haram, although security analysts have also noted the growing activities of Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, an Al-Qaeda-linked extremist group that previously claimed responsibility for an attack in the same region.
The successful rescue of the abductees marks a significant breakthrough in ongoing counter-terrorism operations, though security agencies continue efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating in forests and remote communities across north-central Nigeria.