The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, has rejected claims that 176 residents were kidnapped during the deadly terrorist attack on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities in the Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.
Adekimi disclosed this on Friday while addressing the press in Ilorin, insisting that the figure did not originate from any official security record.
He emphasised that although security agencies acknowledged that several residents were taken away by the attackers, there was no official confirmation that the number of abductees was 176.
The statement came barely 24 hours after relatives of abducted victims, community leaders and traditional authorities appealed to the federal government and security agencies to intensify rescue efforts, claiming that about 176 persons remained in captivity nearly six months after the attack.
Answering questions on the reported figure, the police commissioner said security agencies could not authenticate the number being circulated.
“Regarding the claim that 176 people were kidnapped from the Woro community in the Kaiama Local Government Area, I honestly do not know the source of that figure because it did not come from any security agency or operative.
“I believe the figure started circulating after a video surfaced showing a group of abducted persons who were made to claim they were over a hundred in number,” the commissioner said.
According to him, residents of Kaiama who watched the video were able to identify only a handful of the victims shown in the video.
“I recall that people from Kaiama said they could recognise only about 10 persons in the video, including the wife of the traditional ruler. Based on that, I cannot confirm that 176 people were actually abducted from Woro,” he added.
Adekimi stressed that the police would not rely on figures allegedly propagated by the terrorists, insisting that ongoing security operations remained focused on rescuing everyone still in captivity.
“The story of 176 abductees is one being peddled by the bandits themselves, and I cannot confirm it. What I can assure you is that concerted efforts are being made to secure the release of whoever is currently in the hands of the bandits,” he said.
The police boss also disclosed that recent security operations in neighbouring Oyo State had shifted attention to suspected terrorist enclaves around Borgu, where intelligence indicated that extremist groups had established bases.
“Following the recent operation in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, security efforts have been concentrated around Borgu because intelligence suggests that members of Lakurawa, Ansaru and Boko Haram are domiciled in that axis.
“These terrorists are not domiciled in Kwara State. Their base is in the Borgu Local Government Area and the surrounding axis. Several security operations are currently ongoing there, and many of them are being apprehended,” Adekimi added.
