Panic has gripped residents of Kwara State after terrorists issued a fresh threat to execute dozens of abducted women and children if their demands are not met within days.
The victims, said to be 176 in number, were kidnapped from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area.
The attackers have now given a one-week ultimatum to the Nigerian government, raising fears of a possible mass killing.
The assailants, believed to be members of Boko Haram, reportedly passed the warning through some of the abducted victims after a Jumu’ah prayer session last Friday.
The message quickly reached the community through families of those in captivity. It has since deepened anxiety among residents, many of whom say they feel abandoned.
The traditional ruler of the community, Salihu Bio, confirmed the development. His wife is among those abducted. He explained that one of the victims was allowed to speak with her relatives and used the opportunity to relay the terrorists’ message.
“The abductees told us that after the Jumu’ah prayer on Friday, the terrorists said the government was not taking the matter seriously and that if nothing is done within one week, they will begin to take drastic actions,” he said.
He added that the abductors appear frustrated over what they described as the government’s slow response. According to him, the group complained about the cost of keeping the victims alive without any progress in negotiations.
Bio also disclosed that the same abductee who contacted her family confirmed that those in captivity were still alive at the time of the call. He, however, revealed that the captors had introduced them to religious teachings while in custody.
“The terrorists allowed one of the abductees to call her family on Saturday, and she confirmed that they were all fine. She also said the captors have been teaching them Arabic and Islamic knowledge,” he stated.
Another source within the community painted a more troubling picture. The source, who asked not to be named, said the terrorists had begun to discuss drastic measures if their demands are ignored.
“The Boko Haram fighters complained that they are spending money and resources to feed the abductees and that nothing is coming out of it. They said if nothing is agreed upon within one week, they will start marrying off some of the girls and kill those they consider liabilities.
“We are helpless. These are our wives and children. Now they are threatening to kill them or force them into marriage,” the source added.
The tension escalated further after a video surfaced online showing an armed member of the group claiming responsibility for the attack. In the footage, the militant insisted that the victims had already been influenced by the group’s ideology and said the ultimatum was their final warning.
“We are the ones who kidnapped the people of Woro and Kososo. We have indoctrinated them and changed their way of life. However, the victims have been begging us, and we have given them the opportunity so that their government can hear from them. We are giving them a final opportunity to appeal to the government,” the militant said.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Kwara State Police Command. Attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, were unsuccessful. Calls and messages sent to her phone were not returned.