Kwara State, Nigeria – 163 Kidnapped Victims Freed After Six Months of Jihadist Captivity
On February 3, jihadist militants stormed the villages of Woro and Nuku in Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State, abducting roughly 176 women, children and elders. After six months of captivity, security forces rescued 163 of the hostages and handed them over to authorities in Ilorin, where they were received at the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division, Sobi Barracks and later presented to Governor Abdul Rahman Abdul Razaq.
Survivors described extreme deprivation: limited food consisting of salt‑only soup, guinea corn and occasional local “kuka”, exposure to rain while sleeping near a river, and the death of 13 captives during captivity. Twelve children were reported to remain with the militants after the rescue. Nurse Amirah Salihu recounted delivering about ten pregnant women with her bare hands, after the abductors asked if a nurse was present. The attackers justified the assault as a religious mission, condemning democracy and the Nigerian constitution. The rescued victims are now receiving medical care and support as they reunite with their families.
Entities: Abdul Rahman Abdul Razaq · Amirah Salihu · Boko Haram · Kwara State · Kwara State, Nigeria · Nafisat Abdulfatai · Nuku community · Woro community
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Captives survived on minimal food such as salt‑only soup, guinea corn and occasional local “kuka”. (03aa9d7b-3eab-4cef-ab62-006c854a2874)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Twelve children remained with the militants after the rescue operation. (03aa9d7b-3eab-4cef-ab62-006c854a2874)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Security forces rescued 163 abducted victims after six months of captivity and handed them over to authorities in Ilorin. (f9ee191a-6698-4cc8-9fe3-15f439805fa7)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Nurse Amirah Salihu delivered about ten pregnant women using her bare hands while in captivity. (e5097270-0f5d-4a94-9715-454161f6c769)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Jihadist militants attacked Woro and Nuku communities in Kwara State on February 3, abducting about 176 women and children. (03aa9d7b-3eab-4cef-ab62-006c854a2874, e5097270-0f5d-4a94-9715-454161f6c769, 96787182-64b5-402e-a475-314e672f6e3e, 5a8e23)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Attackers claimed they were acting for religious reasons, opposing democracy and the Nigerian constitution. (e5097270-0f5d-4a94-9715-454161f6c769)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Governor Abdul Rahman Abdul Razaq was to receive the rescued victims. (f9ee191a-6698-4cc8-9fe3-15f439805fa7)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Thirteen captives died during their six‑month captivity. (03aa9d7b-3eab-4cef-ab62-006c854a2874)