The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, has dismissed reports that 176 residents were abducted during the terrorist attack on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.
Adekimi, while speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Friday, said the figure was not from any official security report and could not be verified by security agencies.
The police commissioner acknowledged that some residents were taken away during the attack but said there was no confirmed evidence that the number of victims reached 176 as widely reported.
His clarification came after families of victims, community leaders and traditional rulers appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify rescue efforts, claiming that about 176 people had remained in captivity nearly six months after the attack.
Adekimi said the source of the figure was unclear, adding that it may have originated from a video released by the attackers, where abducted persons were seen claiming they were over 100 in number.
According to him, residents who watched the video were only able to identify a few individuals from their communities.
“I recall that people from Kaiama said they could recognise only about 10 persons in the video, including the wife of the traditional ruler. Based on that, I cannot confirm that 176 people were actually abducted from Woro,” he said.
The commissioner stressed that security agencies would not rely on figures allegedly provided by terrorists, but would continue operations aimed at rescuing anyone still being held captive.
“The story of 176 abductees is one being peddled by the bandits themselves, and I cannot confirm it. What I can assure you is that concerted efforts are being made to secure the release of whoever is currently in the hands of the bandits,” Adekimi said.
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He also revealed that security operations had been intensified around Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State following intelligence reports that terrorist groups, including Lakurawa, Ansaru and Boko Haram, were operating in the area.
The police chief said the groups were not based in Kwara but had established camps around the Borgu axis, where security forces were currently carrying out operations and making arrests.
The Woro attack reportedly occurred on February 3, 2026, when armed terrorists on motorcycles invaded the farming community, killing residents, destroying properties and abducting several people.
Families of the victims had earlier alleged that they raised over N155 million in an attempt to secure the release of the captives, but claimed the terrorists rejected the money and threatened some hostages.
Community leaders have continued to call for stronger rescue operations, urging security agencies to replicate recent successful operations carried out in neighbouring states.
