Residents of Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on Friday staged a protest, pleading with the Federal and state governments to ensure the release of 176 residents of the Woro community who have remained in captivity for 171 days.

 

The protesters expressed frustration over what they described as the lack of visible progress in rescuing the victims abducted in an attack on February 3.

 

Leading the protest, President of the Kaiama Development Association, Alhaji Salihu Yakubu, said the community had received no official update on the fate of the abductees six months after the incident.

 

However, the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the protest as a growing loss of confidence in Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s leadership and handling of the state’s security challenges.

 

A statement issued on Friday by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, said: “the decision of protesters to direct their appeal to President Bola Tinubu rather than the state government was a clear indication that the residents no longer believe the governor can effectively address the worsening security situation.”

 

The protesters had marched through Kaiama with placards, urging the Federal Government to intervene and secure the release of the victims.

 

Meanwhile, the President of the Kaiama Development Association, Alhaji Salihu Yakubu, alleged that more than 300 people were killed during the Woro attack while 176 women, children and men were taken away.

 

He said residents had endured months of uncertainty and appealed to the authorities to intensify efforts to bring the victims home safely.

 

“Woro community was attacked in February and 176 people were taken away. There has been no update on their whereabouts. We are calling on the government to come to our rescue and bring back our children, wives and husbands,” he said.

 

According to him, the victims deserve the same level of attention given to similar incidents in other parts of the country.

 

The Village Head of Woro, Alhaji Umar Bio-Salihu, said the community was still struggling to recover from the traumatic attack, adding that insecurity had continued to spread to neighbouring communities, including Nuku, Tenebo, Kemaanji and Maje.

 

He urged the government to demonstrate greater commitment to protecting lives and securing the release of those still in captivity.

 

“We are Nigerians. Please rescue our people and reunite them with their families,” he appealed.

 

Also, the PDP said the demonstration underscored the frustration of communities that have continued to endure uncertainty while waiting for the release of their loved ones.

 

The party accused Governor AbdulRazaq’s administration of failing to provide visible leadership during one of the state’s most serious security challenges, alleging that the governor had remained largely silent despite the prolonged captivity of the victims.

 

The PDP argued that while the president, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has continued efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture, “state governors also have responsibility to coordinate local efforts, engage security agencies, reassure affected communities and advocate for the safety of their citizens.”

 

It questioned the state’s limited public response since the abduction, asking how often the governor had met with the victims’ families, what concrete rescue strategies had been deployed and what support had been given to those affected by the incident.

 

The PDP further claimed that the governor’s alleged prolonged absence from the state created a leadership vacuum, leaving many residents feeling abandoned “at a time when visible leadership was most needed.”

 

Describing the protest as a reflection of public frustration, the party said: “the affected communities had demonstrated that they no longer regarded the state government as their first source of hope in addressing the crisis,” urging Governor AbdulRazaq to take greater ownership of the state’s security challenges by working closely with security agencies, engaging affected communities and intensifying efforts to secure the release of those still in captivity.

 

The party maintained that effective leadership during periods of insecurity requires constant engagement, visible presence and sustained coordination until victims are safely reunited with their families.