Suspected members of Boko Haram have circulated a video purportedly showing more than 100 women and children abducted from Woro and Nuku communities in Kwara State. In the footage released on Saturday, the insurgents claimed that 176 persons were kidnapped during the recent attacks, disputing earlier official estimates which put the figure between 20 and 30.
The video shows a large group of captives assembled in what appears to be a remote location, surrounded by armed men. A voice heard in the recording accused the Nigerian government of misleading the public about the scale of the abduction. “Your government is lying to Nigerians and the whole world by claiming only 20 was kidnapped. See them, they are more than 100,” the speaker said, alleging that authorities were deliberately minimising the incident.
The abductions are said to have occurred during coordinated assaults on February 3 and 4, when gunmen reportedly invaded the villages following a dispute over demands to introduce Sharia preaching. Community sources said the attacks left between 162 and over 200 people dead, with houses set ablaze and emergency mass burials conducted in the aftermath. Survivors recounted that many residents fled into nearby forests while others were seized by the attackers.
President Bola Tinubu had ordered the deployment of additional security personnel to the affected area after news of the killings and kidnappings broke. However, as of press time, there has been no official confirmation of any rescue operation involving those displayed in the newly released video. Authorities have yet to issue a fresh statement addressing the insurgents’ latest claims.