In Kwara State, 146 survivors of the Woro community kidnapping have been reunited with their families in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state after undergoing 21 days of rehabilitation in Ilorin.
The state government also provided financial assistance to help the victims rebuild their lives, giving N1 million to each adult, N500,000 to each youth and N200,000 to each child.
The Chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area,who is also the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kwara State chapter, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Danladi, disclosed this on Friday during a reception for the victims at the palace of the Emir of Kaiama.
Danladi described the occasion as a “great and memorable” day for Woro and the entire Kaiama community.
He commended President Bola Tinubu and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for their efforts toward the victims’ rescue and rehabilitation.
According to him, the 21-day rehabilitation programme in Ilorin was designed to help the survivors recover before returning to their families.
“We want to specially thank Gov. AbdulRazaq for the cash support.
“Adults received N1 million each, middle-aged youths received N500,000, while children received N200,000 each to support them to start again and settle well,” Danladi said.
He disclosed that three other victims were still receiving treatment in hospital, urging residents to continue supporting the survivors as they recover from the psychological trauma of their ordeal.
Danladi also called on traditional rulers, village heads, residents and other stakeholders to take security as a collective responsibility by promptly reporting suspicious persons and movements to security agencies.
The Village Head of Woro, Alhaji Umar Saliu, described the return of the victims as “good news” for the community, stressing the need for sustained assistance to help them regain their mental and emotional strength.
Saliu commended the government for commencing the reconstruction of shops destroyed during the attack, saying the initiative would help restore commercial activities in the community.
He, however, appealed for assistance for farmers who abandoned their farms and fled Woro because of repeated attacks.
“Agriculture is our mainstay. Our farmers have lost everything. The government should please support them with assistance to start again,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Intervention Committee between the Government and Woro Community, Mr Ahmed Ibn Ahmed, said 13 people were still being held captive and appealed to the authorities to intensify efforts to secure their release.
Ahmed said more than N80 million had so far been distributed as cash support to the rescued victims.
He further called for stronger security around communities bordering the national park, alleging that criminals had been exploiting the vast forest area to carry out attacks.
He also appealed for the restoration of electricity to Woro and other affected communities.
For the survivors, the reunion marked the beginning of a new chapter after months of uncertainty.
One of them, Mariam Ayuba, expressed gratitude for her freedom and the financial assistance, saying she planned to use the money to revive her salon business, which was badly affected by her captivity.
Another survivor, Amira Saliu, said she was overwhelmed with joy to finally reunite with her loved ones after spending six months in captivity.
“I can’t express my feelings. I am so happy that I have lost words. I thank Almighty Allah for my safety and the governor for the support.
“I will use the money wisely and plan myself. I will try to forget the experience and move on with my life,” she said.
Residents of Woro and Kaiama turned out in large numbers to welcome the survivors, with dancing, drumming and celebrations filling the community.
The emotional homecoming saw families embrace their loved ones, with several residents shedding tears of joy after months of fear and uncertainty.
Woro community was attacked on Feb. 3, 2026, with 176 people reportedly abducted.
The victims were subsequently rescued on Aug. 5.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
