Distressed women, children, and nursing mother seen in footage as terrorists accuse authorities of cover-up; Emir of Woro's family among victims
The jihadist group Boko Haram has released a chilling propaganda video showing 176 abducted residents of Woro community in Kwara State—including women, children, and a nursing mother—directly contradicting official accounts that suggested a significantly lower number of captives taken during the February 4 attack.
In the one-minute, 17-second footage circulating on social media platforms including TikTok, armed insurgents identified as members of the Jama'atu Ahlissunnah Lidda'awati wal-Jihad interrogate rows of visibly distressed captives seated in an open area, surrounded by gunmen .
'We Are 176'
The video opens with an unseen terrorist demanding answers from the abductees. When asked where they were seized, several women respond in Hausa: "From Woro." Questioned about their local government and state, they reply "Kaiama" and "Kwara" in unison .
But the most damning moment comes when the captives are asked how many are being held. Two women respond clearly: "176" .
The terrorist then turns his rhetoric toward the Nigerian government, accusing officials of deliberately understating the scale of the abduction. "You can see that your infidel government lied to people that you are not more than 30," he alleges . Another voice in the video adds: "The Kwara State government lied to Nigeria and to the whole world" .
Distressing Conditions
The footage reveals the captives' dire circumstances. Many are poorly dressed, with worn-out clothing and visible signs of distress. Some children appear half-clothed, suggesting harsh and degrading conditions during their captivity .
A credible source in Woro told Vanguard that among those identifiable in the video is the wife of the village head, Alhaji Umar Bio Salihu, seen standing before the camera holding a baby .
The Attack That Shook Kwara
The video emerged just over a week after suspected terrorists launched a devastating assault on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities on February 4. Gunmen on motorcycles stormed the area, shooting indiscriminately and setting houses ablaze in an operation that lasted several hours before security forces arrived .
Initial reports confirmed at least 75 bodies recovered, including members of the Emir of Woro's family, the Chief Imam, a school principal, a headmistress, and students who had just returned home from school . The Emir himself, Alhaji Saliu Bio Umar, remains missing, with his official vehicle reportedly seized by attackers and used to transport abducted victims while his palace was burned to the ground .
Residents who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES said the terrorists operated for hours, facing no resistance until soldiers finally arrived—far too late to prevent the massacre and abduction .
A Long-Awaited Warning
The attack did not come without warning. Village head Salihu Umar revealed that the terrorists had sent a letter to the community three weeks earlier, dated January 8, 2026. Written in Hausa, the letter identified the senders as Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'adati wal-Jihad and stated their intention to "secretly" meet with Umar or his representatives to "discuss with you" and "come to your town to preach to the people" .
Umar made photocopies and forwarded them to the Kaiama Emirate and the State Security Services office in Kaiama. No preventive action was taken .
The community had been under threat for months. In November, terrorists clashed with soldiers stationed in the village after confronting troops deployed to neighbouring Nuku, forcing the military to withdraw its personnel .
Who Are the Attackers?
The faction responsible is led by a commander identified as Mallam Sadiku, sent by late Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau to open new fronts outside the North-East . After years of bloodshed in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, the Sadiku-led group relocated to Kainji Forest Reserve—a vast 5,341-square-kilometre area bordering Kwara State—in July 2025 .
The group has been notorious for abducting girls and forcing them into marriage, conscripting boys for hard labour, and collaborating with bandit leaders like Dogo Gide to stage high-profile attacks, including the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack .
Government Responds
Following the video's release, Kwara State Commissioner for Communications Bolanle Olukoju issued a statement acknowledging the footage and reaffirming the government's commitment to securing the victims' release.
"The Kwara State Government is deeply concerned over the disturbing video released by terrorists... Our thoughts are with all the families affected, and we reaffirm our commitment to securing the safe return of all those impacted," the statement read .
Olukoju noted that government officials and security agencies are "carefully analysing the video to establish the identities of the individuals shown" and have engaged Woro community leaders to assist in identification. She confirmed that "a few persons have been preliminarily identified from the video as residents of Woro," while acknowledging that "more individuals remain unaccounted for" .
The commissioner also noted that some persons initially reported missing have since reunited with families, while others may have temporarily relocated to neighbouring communities including Wawa and New Bussa in Niger State .
A Deliberate Discrepancy
The government has declined to confirm a definitive abduction figure. "Since the incident, there have been varying accounts regarding the number of persons abducted. For this reason, neither the State Government nor security agencies have announced a definitive figure," Olukoju stated .
This measured response stands in stark contrast to the terrorists' confident propaganda. The insurgents' decision to release the video appears calculated to undermine official narratives, demonstrate their continued operational capacity, and apply psychological pressure on both the government and the victims' families.
Village head Salihu Umar, whose wife and daughters are among the abducted, told PREMIUM TIMES after viewing the video that the figure of 176 captives could be accurate, noting that "more than 150 names of those suspected to have been abducted were documented immediately after the attack" .
No Contact, No Rescue
Umar added that no victim has been rescued, and the terrorists have not contacted anyone for ransom negotiations . This silence suggests the abductions may serve a strategic purpose beyond financial gain—perhaps as bargaining chips, propaganda tools, or forced recruits.
President Bola Tinubu has deployed an army battalion to Kaiama under "Operation Savannah Shield" to hunt down the terrorists and protect vulnerable communities . But for the 176 captives now visible to the world, time is running out.
Panic Spreads to Neighbouring Communities
The psychological impact of the Woro attack and subsequent video is already cascading across Kwara State. Residents of Ira, Inaja, and Aho in Oyun Local Government Area have begun relocating after receiving a threatening letter purportedly from a group calling itself the "Nigeria Terrorist Association" .
The poorly written note, dropped at Ira market on Thursday, warned: "We heard about this town, Ira. You people are strong and have many powerful men to face our organisation. Be ready for us at any time, any date. We left Kaiama, we moved to Ira, Inaja, Aho and towns around" .
Security agencies have deployed additional personnel, but fear has already disrupted normal life. Schools have closed, businesses shuttered, and residents fled to neighbouring towns .
A Nation Watches
The video serves as a brutal reminder that Boko Haram's reach now extends far beyond its North-East origins. Kwara, once considered relatively insulated from the insurgency, has become the latest frontline in a war that shows no signs of ending.
For the families of the 176 captives, every moment brings fresh agony. Their loved ones are alive—visible on screens, speaking to cameras—but utterly beyond reach. And until government promises translate into action, that is where they will remain.
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