Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has received 163 rescued kidnap victims in Ilorin. The reception took place on Friday in the state capital. Combined security forces freed the hostages after months in captivity. The victims are from Woro community in Baruten Local Government Area.
Gunmen attacked Woro community in February 2026. They abducted scores of residents during the raid. The victims included women, children, and elderly residents. Security agencies launched a sustained operation to track the kidnappers.
The hostages were held in the Kanji Lake National Park Forest. That terrain spans Kwara and Niger states. It has become a hideout for armed groups. The rescue operation involved the military, police, and local vigilantes. Governor AbdulRazaq had earlier disclosed that the victims were receiving medical care. The governor confirmed a total of 300 hostages were freed. One hundred and sixty-three were from Kwara. One hundred and forty-five were from neighboring Niger State.
The victims arrived in Ilorin after their rescue. Governor AbdulRazaq officially received them at the Government House. Medical teams are attending to the freed hostages. Psychologists are also providing trauma counseling. Families have gathered in Ilorin for reunions. Security forces remain on high alert in Baruten LGA. The governor has vowed to prevent future attacks. He praised the gallantry of the security operatives involved. The rescue is one of the largest single-state recoveries in recent years. Questions persist about how the kidnappers evaded detection for six months.
