Six months in captivity: Woro freed victims recount ordeal
•Young women married off
•Some male captives joined terrorists’ camp
•OFFICIAL: Survivors tested positive to acute malaria fever, malnutrition
By Demola Akinyemi
Six months after they were abducted by terrorists, survivors of the Woro community attack in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have recounted the harrowing experiences they endured in captivity, including the deaths of 13 children, forced marriages involving some young women and severe hunger and deprivation.
The victims were abducted on February 3, 2026, when terrorists attacked the community.
The survivors, who were rescued by security forces and officially handed over to the Kwara State Government on Friday, narrated their ordeal while meeting with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in Ilorin.
Meanwhile, medical examinations conducted on the released victims have revealed that some of them tested positive for acute malaria and malnutrition.
Sunday Vanguard gathered that selected officials of the Kwara State Ministry of Health commenced intensive medical examinations on the remaining released victims at a designated hotel in the Government Reserved Area, GRA, Ilorin, where they are being accommodated.
Fourteen of the victims, whose conditions were said to be critical when they arrived in Ilorin on Thursday night, have been transferred to the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, for further medical attention.
A source in the Ministry of Health, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the tests conducted so far showed that some of the victims were suffering from acute malaria and malnutrition.
Asked about the possible causes of the conditions, the official said: “We only treated them based on the results we obtained after carrying out the tests. Ours is not to ask them questions about the environment they lived in or how they were treated.”
Recounting her experience, one of the survivors, Ameerah Saliu, said she assisted in delivering 11 pregnant women while in captivity, but only about half of the babies survived.
Ameerah, who identified herself as a health worker, said she had to rely on her professional knowledge to assist the pregnant women despite the harsh conditions in the terrorists’ camp.
“It was like living in hell and striving to stay alive. At one point, all hope was lost, but thanks to Almighty Allah, freedom eventually came.
“I’m a health worker, so I just had to assist the women to deliver. I delivered, I think, about 11 babies, but only half of them survived due to the terrible and harsh environment,” she said.
She disclosed that 13 children died in the camp as a result of the harsh conditions, while some young women were married off and some young men eventually joined the terrorists’ camp.
“Ultimately, 13 children died due to the very bad conditions, and the experience was quite harrowing, seeing their death and burial,” she said.
According to her, the women were not sexually molested during their captivity, but they were subjected to severe hunger and deprivation.
“We were fed with anything, like kulikuli, and given any water, maybe once in a day, just to keep whoever could stay alive,” she said.
Ameerah said the victims had almost lost hope of regaining their freedom before their eventual rescue.
She expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Kwara State Government and the security agencies for securing their freedom.
Another survivor, Hauwa Saliu, one of the wives of the Woro village head, corroborated Ameerah’s account, describing their experience in captivity as one that was difficult to put into words.
“None of us believed we would ever be freed again, and so we resigned to fate. Interestingly, they pray too, but Almighty Allah is merciful. Those experiences can’t be recounted. But we are happy for freedom today,” she said.
Receiving the victims, Governor AbdulRazaq commended President Tinubu and the security agencies for the successful rescue operation.
He described the operation as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting lives and restoring peace to communities affected by terrorism and banditry.
The governor assured the survivors of the state government’s continued support, rehabilitation and reintegration.
He said government would continue to provide the necessary assistance to help the victims recover from the trauma and challenges associated with their prolonged captivity.
Sunday Vanguard gathered that 46 of the rescued survivors are currently receiving medical treatment at the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital
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