Kaiama residents protest continuance of kidnapped relatives in captivity

By Ola Taiwo

A crowd of residents of Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on Friday staged a peaceful protest demanding instant release of 176 kidnapped victims of Woro community in the Area who had been kidnapped since February

The victims were kidnapped by terrorists who invaded their community, burned down houses and also reportedly  killed about 300 people

The protesters who feel that their people remain in Kidnapers’ den because government was not showing enough commitment to their release demanded a more committed government’s intervention to secure release of the people.

The protesting crowd who comprised men, women, youths and children, marched from the Kaiama Roundabout through the Emir’s Palace and Kaiama Police Station to the Kaiama Local Government Secretariat in Kaiama town demanding freedom of their relatives 

They called on both the Federal and Kwara State governments to intensify efforts to rescue the victims.

Speaking at the protest, President of the Kaiama Development Association, Salihu Yakubu, lamented that the abductees had been held since February 3 without any official update on their fate. 

He said that over 300 people were killed during the attack on Woro community, while 176 others, including women, children and men, were abducted.

Yakubu while decrying alleged prolonged absence of government presence in the affected communities asked goverment to act swiftly to rescue the kidnapped

“Woro community was attacked in February and 176 people were taken away. There has been no update on their whereabouts.

“We are calling on the government to come to our rescue and bring back our children, wives and husbands. Enough is enough. The government should act swiftly to rescue our innocent people. Woro abductees should not be treated differently from other Nigerians,” he stated.

The Village Head of Woro, Alhaji Umar Bio-Salihu, said the community was still struggling to recover from the trauma of the attack.

Bio-Salihu who said that neighbouring communities such as Nuku, Tenebo, Kemaanji and Maje had also come under attacks by suspected bandits urged goverment to pursue release of the kidnapped victims with the same commitment he made in some other part of the country where the release was not as delayed like that of his people.

“Since the attack on Woro community, other communities in Kaiama have continued to experience attacks. Our people are living in fear.

“The government acted swiftly in similar incidents in other parts of the country. We appeal for the same commitment to securing the release of our people. We are Nigerians. Please rescue our people and reunite them with their families,” he pleaded.

A member of the the protesting crowd, Mrs Awwal Mohammed, lamented that persistent insecurity had crippled farming and commercial activities, leaving many residents unable to access their farms and markets.

Mohammed stated that the prolonged captivity of the victims had deepened the community’s sense of abandonment.

Convener of the protest, Mr Abdulhammeed Abubakar, described the demonstration as a passionate appeal for urgent action.

“Our people deserve urgent attention. We urge the government to intensify efforts to rescue them and reunite them with their families,” he said.

Spokesperson for Kaiama Local Government Council, Mr Suleiman Tanko, who on behalf of authorities of the council addressed the protesters assured residents that the council chairman, in collaboration with the Kwara State Government, was making efforts to secure the release of the abducted residents.