Facts to why the bandits that kidnapped 176 Woro people in Kaiama local government, Kwara State are still holding on to their victims have emerged.

The unfortunate 176 victims were kidnapped February 3, 2026.

An highly placed source (names withheld) told The Guardian Newspaper reporter that the bandits have insisted that they would only negotiate with the federal government or its agent.

The source said that the captors are demanding over two billion naira for the release of the Woro kidnap victims.

According to the source, “the kidnappers are insisting that it is either a discussion with the federal government or nothing.”

The bandits have, however, sworn that they would never “stoop low” to negotiate with the state government, its agents or any individual.

Our reliable government source disclosed that the issue of Woro attack and kidnapping are beyond the governor and the state government.

He said: “my brother, don’t let me deceive you, no amount of protest, abuse or intimidation in the state can get the u fortunate victims released.

“It would take the determined intervention of the federal government to secure their release from the bandits because the ransome is just to uncomfortable for the state to bear,” he stated.

Hinting The Guardian Newspaper correspondent in Ilorin, the state capital, the source asked: “who will give them N2 billion that they use to procure weapons they will again use to threaten our people?”

Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that the kidnappers may have moved the 176 Woro victims out of Kwara State to another unknown location as all known forest in Kaiama and surroundings have been combed to no success.

“We have it on good authority that the victims are no longer in Kaiama or Kwara State because we have searched all known forests to no avail,” he stated.

He added that a pregnant female victim has delivered a child in the den of the kidnappers.