Nearly six months after 176 women and children were abducted during an attack on Woro community in Kwara State, families say hope is fading as they continue to wait for the safe return of their loved ones. The prolonged captivity has left relatives living with uncertainty, prompting fresh appeals for urgent action from the Federal Government, the Kwara State Government and security agencies.
The growing frustration spilled onto the streets of Kaiama on Friday, where hundreds of residents staged a peaceful protest through the town. Carrying placards with messages such as “Bring Back Our Women and Children” and “It Has Been 171 Days in Captivity,” the demonstrators called on President Bola Tinubu and relevant authorities to intensify efforts to rescue those taken during the February attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area.
Speaking during the protest, the Village Head of Woro, Umar Salihu, said the continued absence of the victims had inflicted deep emotional and psychological pain on families. He appealed to government at all levels to make the rescue operation a priority, noting that parents, spouses and children had endured months of fear and uncertainty without meaningful progress.
The leader of the Concerned Citizens of Kaiama Local Government Area, M. Z. Shero, said the demonstration reflected the community’s growing anxiety after 171 days in captivity. According to him, residents felt compelled to speak out because the victims had remained missing for far too long, while their families continued to wait for answers.
Also addressing the gathering, the Chief Imam of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Dr. Sanusi Lafiagi, urged authorities to prevent the incident from becoming another prolonged national security crisis. He warned that swift and coordinated intervention was necessary to avoid a repeat of previous mass abduction cases that remained in the national consciousness for years.
The situation also drew political reactions. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party described the protest as evidence of public dissatisfaction with the handling of insecurity in affected communities. The opposition party alleged that residents had lost confidence in the state’s response and urged greater commitment to addressing the crisis.
As the days in captivity continue to increase, the focus for families in Woro and surrounding communities remains unchanged. Beyond the political exchanges, they say their priority is the safe return of the 176 women and children whose disappearance has left a lasting emotional burden on the community and renewed calls for stronger protection of vulnerable rural areas.
