Kwara community urges police to focus on rescuing abductees, not dispute figures

The Kaiama Development Association (KDA) has urged the Kwara State Police Command to prioritise the rescue of residents abducted during the February 3 attack on Woro community instead of disputing the number of victims.

The association insisted that 176 residents remain missing following the terrorist invasion and called for intensified efforts to secure their release.

Community rejects police position

In a statement jointly signed by its President, Yakubu Salihu, Secretary-General, Aminu Mohammed Umar, and Publicity Secretary, Dr Yahaya Hussein, the association challenged the police’s position that it could not verify the reported number of abductees.

The KDA argued that records compiled by affected families, traditional rulers and local volunteers immediately after the attack should be considered credible, even if they are not contained in official security databases.

According to the association, community members possess firsthand knowledge of those who have yet to return home.

“Focus on rescue efforts”

The association described comments recently attributed to the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, as inappropriate, saying the humanitarian crisis requires cooperation rather than disagreement over statistics.

It stressed that the priority should be rescuing those still in captivity.

Claims of more victims in captivity

The police commissioner had earlier stated during a press briefing in Ilorin that the command could not confirm claims that 176 people were abducted during the attack.

However, a resident, Aliyu Umar, who said he participated in negotiations with the abductors through a mediator, told Daily Trust that at least five women who were pregnant when they were kidnapped have since given birth in captivity, increasing the number of captives from 76 to 81.

Calls for broader documentation

The KDA maintained that the scale of the tragedy should not be measured solely through official records.

It argued that information from affected communities, traditional institutions, local government authorities, humanitarian organisations and relatives of victims should also be taken into account when assessing the number of people still missing.

The association added that every person still being held by the attackers deserves equal attention, regardless of the final number confirmed by authorities.