Government Silence Pains Families as Hundreds Languish in Terrorists' Grip

Months after their loved ones vanished into the hands of gunmen, terrorists, and bandits across various regions of Nigeria, countless Nigerian families are expressing profound distress, claiming official abandonment. They lament that initial government pledges of swift rescue operations have dissolved into a prolonged silence, leaving many victims' fates unknown.

Investigations by Saturday PUNCH reveal a disturbing pattern: despite federal and state authorities promising to secure the release of victims following high-profile abductions, communication with affected families has steadily diminished. Many are left to glean information about their relatives' well-being – or lack thereof – from sporadic ransom calls, recorded voice messages, accounts from escapees, or mere rumours. This recurring cycle involves immediate public outcry and official assurances post-kidnappings, followed by months of agonizing uncertainty as families struggle for updates from security agencies or the abductors, even as ransom demands persist in several instances. The recent abduction of schoolchildren in Oriire, Oyo State, has once again highlighted Nigeria’s escalating kidnapping crisis. However, families whose relatives have been held for months, and sometimes years, in captivity note that public attention often wanes long before their loved ones return, leaving them in prolonged anguish with scant information and dwindling hope.

**Kwara Families Trapped in Uncertainty**

In Kwara State, a series of mass abductions over recent months has left scores of women, children, worshippers, and villagers still captive. The most devastating incident occurred on February 3, 2026, when suspected Boko Haram-linked insurgents attacked Woro and nearby Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area. Approximately 200 residents were reportedly killed, and 176 women, children, and infants were abducted after the assailants razed homes and the traditional ruler's palace. Nearly five months later, many of these abductees remain missing.

Salihu Bio, the traditional ruler of Woro, whose wife is among those still held, recounted that the last communication from the victims came after they were briefly permitted to observe Friday prayers. He quoted them saying, “after the prayers that if nothing is done within a week in April, they will start killing them.” Since then, he confirmed, contact has ceased. "There is no update because the government is not doing anything about it, and the people are not ready to contact the community. There has been no official discussion with them, and there is no sign that they are discussing anything with the government. We are just helpless,” Bio stated.

A similar ordeal unfolded in Kwara South following a March 22 attack on an ECWA church in Omugo, Ifelodun Local Government Area, where eight worshippers were kidnapped. Saturday PUNCH gathered that relatives managed to raise about N20 million and supply food items, despite the abductors' initial demand of N1 billion. Tragically, an escapee later revealed that five captives had died in the forest, with three others still held. Among those still captive is Mosunmola Adekunle, a hearing-impaired widow and mother of seven. Joy Bolarin, Executive Director of the Jibore Foundation, described her continued captivity as particularly distressing. “She cannot hear gunshots. If instructions are given verbally, she may not understand. It is heartbreaking to imagine what she is going through in the forest. It is running into months now, and we cannot continue to keep silent,” Bolarin said. Her sister, Adedokun Rachael, appealed to the Federal Government for intervention. “We learnt that five of the abducted victims have died while the remaining three are still in the kidnappers’ den. One escapee confirmed they are still alive in the forest. We are begging President Bola Tinubu to help us,” Rachael pleaded.

Public affairs analyst Olanrewaju Ishowo urged both the Federal and Kwara State Governments to intensify efforts for the victims' release. “It is heartbreaking that over 170 days after the Woro tragedy, innocent women and children are still being held captive while their families continue to live in pain and uncertainty. Government must act decisively and reassure citizens that their lives truly matter,” he asserted. Security analyst Musa Aliyu pointed out that many affected families lack the financial means to meet ransom demands running into millions of naira. He added that the protracted crisis has also exposed the absence of sustained government support for victims’ families. “There is no known psychological or humanitarian support system in place. Apart from some food items distributed months ago, there has been no structured support, no counselling, no medical outreach, and no consistent engagement with families. Families are living with trauma, grief and uncertainty. Some are already dealing with depression. The children left behind are also affected, but nobody is paying attention to that aspect,” Aliyu explained. Further investigations revealed that at least 22 residents abducted in separate attacks across Adanla, Isapa, Ikosin, Oke-Ero, and neighbouring communities between December 2025 and April 2026 also remain missing.

**Families in Borno Await Answers**

Families in Borno State report a similar plight, with at least 91 residents believed to be in Boko Haram captivity following separate attacks across the state. These victims include 78 schoolchildren abducted from various schools and 13 travelers seized while journeying from Biu to Maiduguri. For Musa Wakawa, whose wife and seven-month-old daughter were abducted on April 15, every phone call still offers a glimmer of hope. “The last time I spoke with my wife was that morning before the vehicle departed, and we even prayed together on the phone. Since then, I have kept calling her line, but it has never connected. We heard they contacted one relative in Abuja, but we are still trying to verify that information,” Wakawa shared. Another relative, Hassan Yati, stated that the attack devastated several families. “Among those abducted were a mother carrying her seven-month-old baby, young graduates travelling to process their NYSC deployment, and a husband and wife. They left home expecting a journey of less than six hours. Instead, months later, they are still missing,” he lamented, appealing to the government to intensify rescue operations. “We have seen successful rescue operations elsewhere. That gives us hope that our loved ones can also return alive,” Yati added.

In separate attacks on schools in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, 42 pupils were abducted from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in May, while another attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, resulted in the abduction of 36 students and one teacher. Simon Wayindu, whose child was among those kidnapped, urged the Federal Government to prioritize the children’s rescue. “We are feeling pain because our children are still in the bush. We are appealing to President Tinubu to ensure our children are rescued,” he said. Another parent, Emmanuel Ayuba, expressed that families had nearly exhausted all hope. “We are seriously heartbroken because of our missing children. The government must do everything possible to bring them back safely,” Ayuba stated. Abubakar Maaji, a resident of Mussa community, confirmed no communication from the abductors. “For now, we have not received any information. We simply wake up every day hoping for God’s intervention. Sometimes I wonder how these children are surviving in the forest during this rainy season.”

Local sources in Borno State alleged that some of the girls abducted from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, might have been taken to care for younger children already living in insurgents’ camps; however, Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify these claims. During a sympathy visit to Lassa, the Commissioner for Education, Lawan Wakilbe, assured residents that efforts were ongoing to secure the victims' release.