[REVISION HISTORY]

Kwara State kidnapping crisis

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-06 02:13 UTC → 2026-08-06 02:15 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In February 2026, heavily armed gunmen attacked the Woro and Nuku communities in Kwara State’s Kaiama Local Government Area, killing over 200 people and abducting 176 residents. The assault was ~~attributed to militants~~ linked to militants associated with Boko Haram. Community protests followed, and a ransom of N60 million secured the release of three minors from the Awun community. ~~By early August 2026 the state announced that 176 captives had been freed after six months, crediting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and security forces.~~ On 5 August 2026, a coordinated intelligence‑driven operation led by the National Counter‑Terrorism Centre, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police rescued 308 victims—163 from the Woro community in Kaiama LGA and 145 from Niger State—who were held in the forest of Kainji Lake National Park in New Bussa LGA. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu praised the agencies, described the raid as the largest same‑day rescue ever conducted by the joint security team, and ordered enhancements to early‑warning mechanisms, community‑level intelligence and rapid‑response ~~capabilities, and the~~ capabilities. The rescued individuals received first‑aid at Wawa Cantonment ~~before~~ and are being handed over to Kwara and Niger state authorities for reunification with their families. ~~The~~ While the August ~~rescue further~~ operation dramatically reduced the number of captives, ~~but~~ the kidnapping crisis remains unresolved for any remaining victims.

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