Community organisations representing residents of Kaiama and Baruten Local Government Areas of Kwara State have appealed to the Federal Government to urgently secure the release of 176 people who remain in captivity following a series of terrorist attacks, warning that the worsening security situation could spiral into a larger insurgency if left unchecked.

The appeal was made during a security briefing in Abuja organised by the Kaiama Development Association (KDA) and the Batombu Unity and Development Initiative Abuja (BUDIA). The groups said nearly six months after the mass abduction, there has been little progress in rescuing the victims or restoring confidence among affected communities.

Hundreds Still in Captivity

Speaking on behalf of the organisers, co-convener of the security briefing, Prof. Umaru Semo, said the continued captivity of the abducted residents has become a humanitarian crisis that requires immediate intervention from all levels of government.

According to him, the 176 victims were abducted during the February attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area and have remained in captivity ever since.

Semo said residents have become increasingly worried over what they described as the absence of visible progress in efforts to secure the victims’ freedom, despite repeated appeals by community leaders and families.

Communities Under Repeated Attack

The groups said insecurity has continued to spread across communities in Kaiama and Baruten, citing repeated attacks on settlements including Tungan Maje, Kemanji and Tungan Aboki in Kaiama Local Government Area, as well as Karonji, Sekugbe, Kenugbe and Yashikira in Baruten Local Government Area.

Semo also recalled the attack on the palace of the Emir of Yashikira, during which the monarch’s wives and children were abducted, describing the incident as another indication of the growing reach of armed groups operating in the area.

Terrorists Exploiting Forest Hideouts

The organisations expressed concern that terrorists have established operational bases in and around the Borgu Game Reserve, allowing them to launch attacks on nearby communities while forcing many residents to abandon their farms.

According to the groups, the continued occupation of forest areas by armed groups has disrupted farming activities, threatened food production and displaced large numbers of residents across the old Borgu axis.

Poor Roads Hindering Security Operations

The groups also blamed the deteriorating road network in the affected areas for slowing emergency responses by security agencies.

They argued that the poor condition of roads linking Kaiama and Baruten to Ilorin makes it difficult for security personnel to respond quickly during attacks, while enabling terrorists to move freely through remote forest routes.

Semo noted that despite occupying more than half of Kwara State’s landmass and serving as one of the state’s major agricultural zones, Kaiama and Baruten have remained underserved in terms of infrastructure and security.

Calls for Coordinated Security Response

The organisations urged the Federal Government to immediately rescue the 176 abductees from Woro community as well as the family members of the Emir of Yashikira.

They also called for sustained military operations to dismantle terrorist camps operating around the Borgu axis, increased humanitarian assistance for displaced residents, reconstruction of affected communities and the rehabilitation of strategic roads across the region.

The groups warned that unless decisive action is taken, the pattern of attacks could mirror the early stages of insurgency previously witnessed in parts of North-East Nigeria.