Kwara Indigenes In Abuja Express Concern Over Non- Rescue Of Over 170 Kidnapped Victims
The indigenous people of Kwara State, resident in Abuja, have expressed grave concern over the non- rescue of over 170 people kidnapped in the state newrly six months ago, noting that, there had been no meaningful update on the victims or evidence of sustained efforts to secure their release.
The indigenous people of Kwara State, resident in Abuja, have expressed grave concern over the non- rescue of over 170 people kidnapped in the state newrly six months ago, noting that, there had been no meaningful update on the victims or evidence of sustained efforts to secure their release.
The members of Kwara State communities in Abuja urged both Kwara State and Federal Governments to swing into action and immediately rescue the victims still being held captive following a series of attacks by terrorists and bandits in Kaiama and Baruten local government areas of the state.
They spoke weekend during a security briefing jointly organised by the Kaiama Development Association, KDA, and the Batombu Unity and Development Initiative Abuja, BUDIA.
The members of Kwara State communities in Abuja urged both Kwara State and Federal Governments to swing into action and immediately rescue the victims still being held captive following a series of attacks by terrorists and bandits in Kaiama and Baruten local government areas of the state.
They spoke weekend during a security briefing jointly organised by the Kaiama Development Association, KDA, and the Batombu Unity and Development Initiative Abuja, BUDIA.
They said that community records indicate that over 500 people have been killed in attacks across Kaiama, Baruten and neighbouring Borgu LGA since the beginning of 2026.
The groups also, said one of the deadliest attacks occurred on February 3, 2026, in Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities, where over 200 people were reportedly killed and 176 others, including women, nursing mothers and children abducted.
Addressing reporters on the occasion, the co-convener of the Kaiama and Baruten security briefing, Prof. Umaru Ishiaku Semo, said the worsening security situation in the two areas had claimed hundreds of lives, displaced thousands of residents and devastated livelihoods and particularly urged the Federal Government not to allow the plight of the affected communities to fade from national attention.
His words, “Our communities should not remain invisible because they are remote. Our suffering should not be ignored because we are minorities. The time to act is now, before more lives are lost, more communities disappear, and more of our people are forgotten.”
Semo further stated that there were repeated attacks on communities including Tungan Maje, Kemanji and Tungan Aboki in Kaiama LGA, as well as Karonji, Sekugbe, Kenugbe and Yashikira in Baruten LGA, even as armed men invaded the palace of the Emir of Yashikira, abducting the monarch’s wives and children, just as many communities continued to suffer frequent attacks.
They noted that poor road infrastructure was hampering security operations, saying the conditions of the roads made it difficult for security personnel to respond swiftly to attacks while allowing armed groups to move freely through the forests.
Acknowledging recent efforts by the Federal Government, including the approval of an additional Army division to be headquartered in Kwara State, however, the groups urged authorities to sustain security operations to ensure that the crisis in the affected communities was not overshadowed by political events ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Addressing reporters on the occasion, the co-convener of the Kaiama and Baruten security briefing, Prof. Umaru Ishiaku Semo, said the worsening security situation in the two areas had claimed hundreds of lives, displaced thousands of residents and devastated livelihoods and particularly urged the Federal Government not to allow the plight of the affected communities to fade from national attention.
His words, “Our communities should not remain invisible because they are remote. Our suffering should not be ignored because we are minorities. The time to act is now, before more lives are lost, more communities disappear, and more of our people are forgotten.”
Semo further stated that there were repeated attacks on communities including Tungan Maje, Kemanji and Tungan Aboki in Kaiama LGA, as well as Karonji, Sekugbe, Kenugbe and Yashikira in Baruten LGA, even as armed men invaded the palace of the Emir of Yashikira, abducting the monarch’s wives and children, just as many communities continued to suffer frequent attacks.
They noted that poor road infrastructure was hampering security operations, saying the conditions of the roads made it difficult for security personnel to respond swiftly to attacks while allowing armed groups to move freely through the forests.
Acknowledging recent efforts by the Federal Government, including the approval of an additional Army division to be headquartered in Kwara State, however, the groups urged authorities to sustain security operations to ensure that the crisis in the affected communities was not overshadowed by political events ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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