Terrorists who abducted 176 women and children from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have threatened to execute the victims if their demands are not met within one week.
The attackers, suspected to be members of Boko Haram, reportedly issued the ultimatum through the captives after a Jumu’ah prayer session on Friday, according to community members and families.
The traditional ruler of the community, Salihu Bio, whose wife is among those abducted, confirmed the development on Monday.
He said one of the victims was allowed to contact her family and relay the message from the terrorists.
“The abductees told us that after the Jumu’ah prayer on Friday, the terrorists said the government was not taking the matter seriously and that if nothing is done within one week, they will begin to take drastic actions,” he said.
Bio added that the insurgents expressed frustration over what they described as the government’s lack of urgency in negotiations.
“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 stated.
A community source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the situation could worsen if no agreement is reached within the deadline.
“The Boko Haram fighters complained that they are spending money and resources to feed the abductees and that nothing is coming out of it. They said if nothing is agreed upon within one week, they will start marrying off some of the girls and kill those they consider liabilities.
“We are helpless. These are our wives and children. Now they are threatening to kill them or force them into marriage,” the source said.
In a video released by the group, an armed militant claimed responsibility for the abduction and said 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 said.
Efforts to get an official response from the police were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to the Kwara State Police Command spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, were not answered as of press time.
