By Our Correspondent
National News – Youths in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State staged a protest on Friday, April 10, 2026, demanding urgent government intervention over the prolonged captivity of 176 abducted women and children from Woro community.
The demonstration, led by the Kaiama Youths Advocacy Group, took place at the council secretariat, where protesters expressed outrage over what they described as delayed rescue efforts and lack of transparency by authorities.
The protest was triggered by a viral video showing the kidnapped victims pleading for help, intensifying fears and anger across the community.
According to the group, the mass abduction highlights serious security lapses in the region and raises concerns about the effectiveness of ongoing anti-banditry operations.
Protest leaders said families of the victims are losing hope as days pass without concrete updates or visible rescue actions.
The youths called on both the Kwara State Government and the Federal Government to deploy specialised rescue teams immediately, establish clear timelines, and provide regular public briefings.
They also urged authorities to strengthen local security networks by supporting vigilante groups, improving intelligence gathering, and setting up rapid-response units in vulnerable border communities like Kaiama.
In a related development, women from the group staged a peaceful protest in Ilorin, carrying placards demanding the safe return of their loved ones.
They warned that insecurity in Kwara North has reached a critical level and must not be ignored for political reasons.
Protesters stressed that protecting lives should take precedence over political considerations and vowed to continue demonstrations until decisive action is taken.
Meanwhile, the burial of five forest guards killed earlier in the day at the Emir’s Palace in Kaiama has further underscored the deteriorating security situation.
Residents say urgent intervention is needed to prevent further loss of lives and restore confidence in the region.
