The People’s Voice Advocacy Network, PVAN, has implored President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene to secure the release of 176 persons abducted by terrorists in Woro, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The abduction occurred on February 3, 2026, during an attack that reportedly left about 200 people killed.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Deputy Publicity Secretary, Engr. Kehinde Abdulraheem , the group said the President’s intervention has become imperative nearly six months after the incident, noting that the state government has been unable to secure their release.
The group also expressed concern that families of the victims had raised over N155 million through community contributions to pay ransom, but the abductors rejected it.
The group described the development as heartbreaking and a reflection of the immense suffering the affected families have endured since the victims were abducted.
According to the organisation, the willingness of residents to empty their savings, sell personal belongings and mobilise funds from within their communities demonstrates the depth of desperation and hopelessness that has overtaken the affected communities.
It also expressed concern over reports that the abductors had threatened to forcibly marry some of the female captives they considered “beautiful” while threatening to kill others if their demands were not met.
“It is difficult to imagine the trauma these innocent citizens and their families have endured over the last six months. Every passing day prolongs the agony of parents, spouses, children and entire communities who have continued to wait for the safe return of their loved ones,” the organisation said.
It argued that the prolonged captivity of such a large number of citizens had gone beyond a security challenge and had become a humanitarian emergency requiring urgent national attention.
It urged the Federal Government to immediately intensify efforts to rescue the victims and ensure their safe return like they did for the kidnapped Oyo students and teachers.
Acknowledging that security operations involve significant complexities, PVAN said the prolonged captivity of the victims had raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the state’s response to the crisis.
It challenged Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to publicly address the people of Kwara State on the steps his administration has taken to secure the release of the abductees and their fate.
“Nearly six months after the abduction, Kwarans deserve to hear directly from their governor on what efforts have been made to secure the release of the victims. At a time when hundreds of families are living in anguish, silence is neither reassuring nor acceptable,” the statement read.
It maintained that leadership during moments of crisis requires transparency, empathy and accountability, stressing that citizens have a right to know what their government is doing to protect lives and rescue those in captivity.
The group also expressed fresh concern over the abduction of three persons, including a pregnant woman, in a community in Ilorin East local government area on Tuesday night, warning that the incident suggests insecurity is spreading beyond rural communities into the state capital.
