The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Ojo Adekimi, has dismissed reports claiming that 176 residents were abducted during the February terrorist attack on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area.
The Punch reported that while speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Friday, Adekimi said the widely circulated figure was not based on any official security record.
He acknowledged that several residents were kidnapped during the attack but maintained that security agencies had not verified claims that 176 people were taken.
His clarification came a day after relatives of the victims, community leaders and traditional rulers appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue those they claimed had remained in captivity for nearly six months.
They alleged that about 176 residents were still being held by the terrorists.
Addressing the reported figure, the police commissioner insisted that security agencies could not authenticate the number.
“Regarding the claim that 176 people were kidnapped from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area, I honestly do not know the source of that figure because it did not come from any security agency or operative.
“I believe the figure started circulating after a video surfaced showing a group of abducted persons who were made to claim they were over a hundred in number,” the commissioner said.
Adekimi explained that residents who watched the video could identify only a few of the individuals shown.
“I recall that people from Kaiama said they could recognise only about 10 persons in the video, including the wife of the traditional ruler. Based on that, I cannot confirm that 176 people were actually abducted from Woro,” he added.
He stressed that the police would not rely on figures allegedly publicised by the terrorists, noting that rescue efforts remained ongoing.
“The story of 176 abductees is one being peddled by the bandits themselves, and I cannot confirm it. What I can assure you is that concerted efforts are being made to secure the release of whoever is currently in the hands of the bandits,” he said.
The police commissioner also revealed that recent security operations in neighbouring Oyo State had redirected attention to suspected terrorist hideouts around Borgu, where intelligence reports indicated the presence of extremist groups.
“Following the recent operation in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, security efforts have been concentrated around Borgu because intelligence suggests that members of Lakurawa, Ansaru and Boko Haram are domiciled in that axis.
“These terrorists are not domiciled in Kwara State. Their base is in Borgu Local Government Area and the surrounding axis. Several security operations are currently ongoing there, and many of them are being apprehended,” Adekimi added.
His remarks came amid renewed appeals by residents of the affected communities for a coordinated rescue mission after negotiations with the kidnappers reportedly failed.
The Woro attack occurred on February 3, 2026, when heavily armed terrorists riding motorcycles stormed the farming community.
The assailants reportedly spent hours attacking the area, killing residents, setting houses and shops ablaze, and abducting many people before security operatives arrived.
Families of the victims claimed the communities raised more than N155 million in a bid to secure the captives’ freedom, but alleged that the terrorists rejected the ransom and threatened to kill some hostages while forcing some female captives into marriage.
Speaking in a video released on Thursday, Abdul Ibrahim, who represented the affected communities, said residents had explored every possible avenue, including direct negotiations and public appeals, without achieving the release of any captive.
The Dan Sardaukin Kaiama, Suleiman Bukata, also called on security agencies to replicate the rescue operations recently carried out in neighbouring Oyo State, insisting that those still being held in terrorist camps in Kaiama deserved the same level of intervention.
