Kwara State kidnapping crisis

In February 2026, heavily armed gunmen attacked the Woro and Nuku communities in Kwara State’s Kaiama Local Government Area, abducting more than 250 residents and killing dozens. The kidnappings sparked community protests and a ransom payment of N60 million helped secure the release of three minors from the Awun community. By early August 2026, the state government announced that 176 of the abducted residents had been freed after six months in captivity, crediting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and security forces for the breakthrough.

On 5 August 2026, Nigerian security agencies conducted the largest same‑day rescue of kidnapping victims, freeing 308 people abducted in separate attacks on Kwara and Niger states. The operation, led by the National Counter‑Terrorism Centre and coordinated with the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services and the Police, recovered 163 victims from the Woro community in Kaiama LGA and 145 from Niger State, all held in the Kainji Lake National Park forest. President Tinubu praised the agencies’ “bravery and unwavering commitment” and ordered enhancements to early‑warning mechanisms, community intelligence gathering and rapid‑response capabilities. The rescued individuals received first‑aid and medical care before being handed over to the Kwara and Niger state governments for reunification with their families. The August rescue further reduced the number of captives, though the crisis remains unresolved for any remaining victims.