The situation in the Woro community of Kaiama LGA, Kwara State, has reached a critical breaking point. Presently, the residents are in a state of extreme anxiety following a direct threat from their captors.
​The ultimatum was reportedly issued after a Jumu’ah prayer session on Friday, April 24, 2026. The terrorists, identified by local sources as a faction of Boko Haram, have expressed frustration over the Federal Government’s perceived lack of urgency in negotiations.
A one-week window that expires around May 1, 2026. If demands are not met, the group has threatened to begin mass executions of the captives or forcibly marry off the women and girls.
There are 176 women and children (including pregnant women) who have been held since the horrific massacre on February 3, 2026, which left over 200 villagers dead.
A captive was briefly allowed to contact her family on Saturday, confirming the victims are still alive but are being subjected to daily “indoctrination” sessions involving extremist religious teachings.
​The Woro community has been under siege since the February attack, which President Tinubu condemned as a “cowardly and beastly” response to the villagers’ refusal to accept the group’s extremist doctrines.
The terrorists are believed to be operating from a stronghold within the Kainji National Park, a vast and difficult terrain covering over 5,000 square kilometers, which complicates military rescue efforts.
While specific demands for this ultimatum haven’t been fully publicized, previous reports indicated a staggering ransom demand of N2 billion, which the government has resisted.
President Tinubu previously ordered an army battalion to the area to spearhead this operation. The traditional ruler of Woro, Salihu Bio whose own wife is among the 176 captives has made an emotional plea to the Federal Government to prioritize the lives of the women and children before the deadline passes.
The next few days are pivotal. Community leaders and families remain in a state of “prayerful suspense,” waiting to see if the government will engage in a rescue operation or a negotiated release to prevent the threatened bloodshed.
