In a major rescue operation, 163 individuals abducted from the village of Woro in Nigeria have been freed after enduring up to six months of brutal captivity in the Kainji Lake National Park forest.
The victims, including many women and children, were found malnourished and bearing physical scars from their ordeal. They were taken to Kwara State University Teaching Hospital in Ilorin, where medical teams are providing critical care.
Conditions in Captivity
According to survivors and local officials, the captives were held by suspected jihadist groups who raided Woro near the Benin border in February 2026. The attack resulted in the deaths of over 165 people and the abduction of dozens more.
During captivity, the victims were given minimal food, mostly a porridge called tuwo made from guinea corn, and a soup prepared from river water mixed with salt. Occasional meat came from livestock presumed stolen. Those who disobeyed strict rules, such as leaving designated areas without permission, were subjected to beatings.
Births Amid Captivity
More than a dozen pregnant women gave birth while in captivity under dire conditions. Nurse Amira Salihu, herself a survivor who lost two brothers in the attack, assisted with deliveries by torchlight, sometimes using improvised tools.
Ongoing Recovery and Community Rebuilding
At the hospital, children and adults are slowly regaining strength, with some still requiring blood transfusions. The village head of Woro, Umar Bio Salihu, has been closely monitoring the victims' progress and expressed hope as the community begins to revive.
Despite the trauma, local markets have reopened and life in Woro is gradually returning to normal. However, 13 individuals remain captive and the region continues to grapple with an escalating kidnapping crisis that generated approximately $1.66 million in ransom payments between mid-2024 and mid-2025.
"We thank God we are out," said one survivor, reflecting on the harrowing experience. "It was like we just came back from hellfire."
