Kwara groups demand rescue of 176 abductees, warn of escalating insecurity
The Kaiama Development Association and the Batombu Unity and Development Initiative have called on the federal and Kwara State governments to rescue 176 individuals abducted during a February 3 attack on the Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area. Speaking in Abuja, Alhaji Umar Gunu, President of the KDA Abuja Branch, stated that insecurity in Kaiama and Baruten LGAs has reached a critical stage, with over 500 people reportedly killed since early 2026, thousands displaced, and communities repeatedly attacked by terrorists and armed bandits. He warned that the situation could escalate into a full-scale insurgency if not addressed urgently. Gunu highlighted that poor road networks in these agricultural regions, which comprise over half of Kwara State's landmass, exacerbate the security crisis by hindering security forces and aiding armed groups. He noted that nearly six months after the Woro attack, which also killed over 200 residents, families have received no information about the abductees. The violence has spread to other communities, displacing thousands, crippling economic activities, and forcing farmers to abandon their lands. Gunu expressed concern that the crisis has evolved beyond ordinary banditry into a combination of organized terrorism and criminal violence, with intelligence suggesting links to jihadist groups. He urged the federal government, Kwara State Government, National Assembly, security agencies, and humanitarian organizations to act by rescuing
