Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Concerned youths of Kaiama Local Government Area in Kwara State staged a renewed peaceful protest on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, demanding improved security and the immediate rescue of 176 women and children abducted during the Woro community attack on February 3. The demonstration, which began early this morning at the Kaiama Local Government Secretariat, saw hundreds of young men and women carrying placards bearing messages such as “Hear our voices, stop the killing. Bad road. Bad network. Bring back our women and children.”
The protest comes barely 24 hours after a deadly attack on Kemanji community in the same local government area, which left multiple soldiers dead and scores of residents missing, further heightening fears that the region is becoming a safe haven for armed groups. The youths, under the umbrella of the Kaiama Youths Advocacy Group, vowed to continue their demonstration until the federal and state governments deploy specialised rescue teams to the area.
The mass abduction remains one of the worst security tragedies in Kwara State's history. On February 3, 2026, suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked the remote communities of Woro, Kososo, and Nuku in Kaiama LGA, killing at least 200 people, including traditional and religious leaders, and setting hundreds of homes ablaze.
During the assault, the attackers rounded up at least 176 women and children, dragging them into the dense forests that straddle the Kwara and Niger state border. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who visited the community after the attack, described the incident as a “pure massacre.” President Bola Tinubu condemned the “cowardly and beastly attack” and ordered the deployment of an army battalion to the area under Operation Savannah Shield. Despite these measures, no rescue has been confirmed, and the victims' whereabouts remain unknown.
In the weeks following the attack, families have been left in anguish. One survivor, Abubakar Ibrahim, told local media that he lost two of his younger brothers during the attack, while his wife and six children were among those abducted. Another resident, Mohammed Abdulkarim, whose two-year-old child was taken, said, “The child is just about two years old and has barely started talking.
The only word he says is ‘Daddy’.” A viral video that surfaced on April 9 showed the abducted women and children pleading for government intervention. In the footage, a young woman, her voice shaking, said, “We are begging you; this is our last opportunity. We have been here since February 3. Please come to our rescue.” A terrorist in the background confirmed responsibility, claiming the captives had been “indoctrinated and changed.”
The Tuesday protest follows a similar demonstration on April 10, which saw youths block the council secretariat, condemning what they described as a failure of authorities to ensure the safety of citizens. The group warned that the prolonged captivity of the victims reflects deep cracks in the security system. “The abduction of 176 women and children is a grave security breach. Yet the prolonged captivity points to a worrying pattern: delayed response, limited transparency, and absence of visible results,” the group said.They also staged a women’s protest in Ilorin, the state capital, carrying placards inscribed “Bring Back Our People, Kaiama Is Crying for Justice” and warning that “the insecurity in Kwara North has reached a breaking point.”
The protest was also triggered by the April 20 attack on the military base in Kemanji community, where suspected terrorists invaded at about 3 a.m., killing at least four soldiers and leaving a local vigilante member critically injured. Residents described the attackers as heavily armed and highly coordinated, deploying explosive devices against a military position shortly after arriving.
In the aftermath of the attack, dozens of residents were reported missing, with fears that many were abducted by the fleeing gunmen. The assailants also carted away military patrol vehicles and motorcycles before escaping. The attack came just 10 days after suspected bandits killed five forest guards, including a commander, in Nuku community, also in Kaiama.
Addressing the gathering, the group’s spokesperson called for the immediate deployment of specialised rescue teams to the Woro axis with defined timelines and regular public briefings, the strengthening of local vigilante groups with modern equipment, and the establishment of rapid-response units in vulnerable border communities like Kaiama. “We acknowledge that tackling banditry is complex. Security agencies face difficult terrain, limited resources, and evolving threats,” the group said. “But commitment must translate into coordinated action.” They also warned against any attempt to suppress their voices for political considerations. “The safety of lives must take precedence over political calculations,” the statement read.
As the protesters dispersed peacefully after receiving assurances from local government officials that their grievances would be escalated to state and federal authorities, the fate of the 176 abducted women and children remains unknown. For the families, the silence from authorities has been deafening. A survivor, Sadiq Musa, whose two children were taken, said, “We have not heard anything from the government about our children. It has been two months now, and there is no information.” The United Nations reported that up to 17,000 people were affected by the February attack, with many displaced to neighbouring states and even the Benin Republic. As the 11th week of captivity begins, the people of Kwara North wait in anguish, knowing that for the 176 women and children, every passing day brings new fears for their safety.
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