Families lament as terrorists reject N155m ransom for 176 abductees in Kwara

Nearly six months after terrorists abducted scores of residents in Kwara State, families of the victims have said efforts to secure their release through negotiations have failed after the kidnappers allegedly rejected more than N155 million raised by the affected communities.

The families accused the authorities of not doing enough to end the prolonged captivity, expressing fears over the safety of the 176 abductees following fresh threats allegedly made by the terrorists.

In a video seen on Thursday, community leaders said residents exhausted their savings, sold personal belongings and organised community-wide fundraising to raise the amount demanded by the kidnappers.

However, they alleged that the terrorists refused to accept the money, leaving negotiations at a standstill.

The development, they warned, had left hundreds of families in limbo, with many uncertain whether their relatives would ever return home.

Speaking on behalf of the affected communities, Abdul Ibrahim said the situation had deteriorated after the kidnappers allegedly threatened to execute some of the captives while keeping others as wives.

According to him, every option available to the communities had been explored, including public protests and direct negotiations, without producing the release of a single victim.

“We contributed more than N155m because we believed it would bring our people home. Instead, the money was rejected and the suffering has continued.

“Our appeal now is to the Federal Government, the Kwara State Government and the security agencies. We have reached the point where only a decisive government intervention can save these people,” Ibrahim said.

He alleged that the abductors had warned that some female captives would be forced into marriage, describing the message as one that had thrown families into deeper fear.

The Dan Sardaukin Kaiama, Suleiman Bukata, said the recent rescue of abductees in neighbouring Oyo State had strengthened the belief that a similar operation could free those still trapped in terrorists’ camps in Kaiama.

Bukata urged security agencies to launch an intensive operation in the affected communities, saying the victims had remained in captivity for too long.

“No Nigerian community should be left to face this kind of tragedy alone. If people could be rescued elsewhere, our people should not be forgotten,” he said.

Recall that the victims were carted away on February 3 when armed assailants launched what many observers describe as a “massacre” on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area, leaving scores of residents dead.