Terrorists suspected to be members of Boko Haram have threatened to execute 176 women and children abducted from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State if their demands are not met within one week.
The ultimatum was reportedly issued after a Jumu’ah prayer session on Friday, with the message relayed through the victims to their families, according to community sources.
The traditional ruler of the community, Salihu Bio, whose wife is among those abducted, confirmed the development on Monday, describing the situation as dire and deeply distressing.
According to him, one of the victims was permitted by the captors to contact her family and deliver the warning.
“The abductees told us that after the Jumu’ah prayer on Friday, the terrorists said the government was not taking the matter seriously. They warned that if nothing is done within one week, they will begin to take drastic actions,” the monarch said.
Bio further disclosed that the abductees were still alive as of the last communication, noting that the insurgents claimed to be providing them with food while also engaging them in religious teachings.
“The terrorists allowed one of the abductees to call her family on Saturday, and she confirmed that they were all fine. She also said the captors have been teaching them Arabic and Islamic knowledge,” he added.
A community source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed fears over the worsening situation, alleging that the terrorists have threatened to force some of the girls into marriage while killing others deemed a burden.
“They complained about the cost of feeding the abductees and said nothing is coming out of it. If no agreement is reached within one week, they will start marrying off some of the girls and kill those they consider liabilities,” the source said.
“We are helpless. These are our wives and children. Now they are threatening to kill them or force them into marriage.”
In a video said to have been released by the terrorists, an armed militant claimed responsibility for the abduction and asserted that the victims had been indoctrinated.
“We are the ones who kidnapped the people of Woro and Kososo. We have indoctrinated them and changed their way of life. However, the victims have been begging us, and we have given them the opportunity so that their government can hear from them. We are giving them a final opportunity to appeal to the government,” the militant reportedly stated.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain an official response from the police were unsuccessful. Calls and text messages sent to the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, were not returned.
The incident has heightened tension in the affected communities, with residents calling on the government and security agencies to act swiftly to secure the release of the abductees.
Margaret ABAH
