Kwara Governor AbdulRazaq Vows To Deliver FCT For APC As Terrorists Kill Over 170, Kidnap Dozens In His State

Abuja, Nigeria– Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has pledged to deliver the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming council elections, even as his state grapples with deadly terrorist attacks, mass killings and abductions.

The governor’s pledge comes amid rising outrage over worsening insecurity in the state following a series of attacks that have left hundreds of residents dead and many others abducted.

In early February, terrorists reportedly attacked Woro and nearby Nuku villages in Kaiama Local Government Area, killing at least 170 people, injuring dozens, and kidnapping many others in coordinated assaults that have thrown the communities into mourning.

Despite the scale of the tragedy and mounting insecurity across parts of Kwara, AbdulRazaq appeared in a campaign video in Abuja, addressing party stakeholders on efforts to secure electoral victory for the APC in the FCT.

He made the remarks on Friday during the inauguration of the APC FCT Council Election Campaign Council ahead of the forthcoming polls.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed February 21 for the FCT Area Council elections.

Meanwhile, the 138-member APC FCT Campaign Council will be chaired by Governor AbdulRazaq of Kwara State.

Assuring party leaders of coordinated mobilisation and political strategy, the governor said: “On behalf of the excellencies and many other esteemed colleagues on the committee, I assure the President and our party leaders that we will work as a team with local stakeholders and committee influencers to deliver FCT to the APC.

“On behalf of the members, distinguished members of this committee, I express a gratitude to the leadership of our party for the privilege to serve in this capacity.”

Referring to the administration of President Tinubu, he stated:“I’ve seen President Tinubu, the leader of our party, take courageous and patriotic steps to put our economy on a strong footing, strike necessary partnerships to defeat terrorism, strengthen our standing in the committee of states and do everything possible to ensure the dividends of democracy trickles down to the remotest corner of our country.”

Expressing confidence in voter turnout across the territory, AbdulRazaq added:
“I’m confident that the good people of the Federal Capital Territory across the six council areas will come out to align with our party and show truly that APC is not just the party of now but also the reputable vessel to Nigeria’s progress and sustainable future.”

Afrika Eyes had reported earlier that terrorists belonging to Boko Haram sect, Jama’atu Ahlissunnah Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, have paraded no fewer than 176 abducted victims in Woro community, located in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The victims including women, children and a nursing mother, while accusing the state government of misleading the public about the scale of the abduction.

In a disturbing video obtained by Afrika Eyes, one of the armed terrorists was seen parading the abducted victims in a bushy location while interrogating them about where they were kidnapped.

The footage showed dozens of visibly traumatised women and children standing in clusters, many appearing weak and exhausted, with their clothes dirty and worn.

Meanwhile, several children were seen without trousers, while others clung to their mothers.

During the video recording, one of the terrorists was heard asking the captives where they had been abducted from.

Responding in Hausa one after the other, three of the women, including a nursing mother carrying a baby, stated clearly that they were kidnapped from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

“We were kidnapped in Woro,” one of the women said in Hausa, while another added, “They took us from our community in Kaiama.”

The terrorist, who continued filming the victims, then accused the Kwara State Government of deceiving Nigerians and the international community regarding the number of persons abducted during the attack on the community.

According to him, contrary to official claims that only between 20 and 30 people were kidnapped, the actual number of abducted victims was far higher.

He said the government had “lied to Nigeria and the world” by downplaying the scale of the mass abduction.

In the video, the captives appeared frightened and helpless as they stood under the watch of armed insurgents. Several women were seen holding babies, while many children stood barefoot on the bare ground.