Civil society groups urge Kwara authorities to secure freedom of 176 abducted women Kwara, calling continued captivity unacceptable

A coalition of civil society organisations in Kwara State has intensified pressure on the state government to secure the freedom of 176 women and children abducted during violent attacks on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area.

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The groups, coordinated by the Media Advocacy and Technologies Centre, issued a statement on Wednesday, describing the ongoing captivity of the victims as unacceptable and a stark failure of the government’s duty to protect its citizens.

“We demand that the Kwara State Government wake up to its responsibilities and put every machinery in place to ensure the immediate release of the women and children of Woro and Nuku communities,” the coalition said.

Residents reported that the attacks, which occurred approximately 15 days ago, left over 200 people feared dead, destroyed several homes, and resulted in numerous abductions.

The coalition said most of those held captive were women and children, enduring degrading conditions and exposure to harsh weather.

The civil society groups called on the state government to deploy all available security resources to rescue the abducted women Kwara, apprehend the perpetrators, and provide sustained protection for affected communities.

They further urged the provision of comprehensive rehabilitation programmes for survivors.

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The coalition’s statement highlighted the urgency of intervention, stressing that abandoning the victims would be both “painful and shameful” and could exacerbate insecurity in the agrarian region.