Some of the women and children abducted from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have reportedly told their relatives that a helicopter delivered money to their kidnappers during their six-month captivity, contradicting the Federal Government’s account that they were rescued through a military operation.

A relative who recently visited some of the freed victims told SaharaReporters that two members of his family were particularly surprised after hearing government officials describe their release as a successful security rescue in which no ransom was paid.

According to the relative, the abductees said they had personally witnessed a helicopter arrive while they were held captive and deliver money to the kidnappers.

“When they heard that the government was claiming they were rescued and that no money was paid, two of my family members were shocked,” the relative told SaharaReporters.

“They said a helicopter came while they were in captivity and money was brought to the kidnappers. They saw it, but they were not allowed to touch the money. The kidnappers prevented them from going near it. This was a few days, like four to five days before they were released.”

The fresh account raises questions about the circumstances surrounding the release of the Woro victims and whether any form of payment or negotiation took place before they were freed.

The allegations come days after Nigerian security forces announced the release of more than 300 abducted Nigerians in what President Bola Tinubu described as the country’s largest single-day hostage rescue operation.

Among those freed were 163 people abducted from Woro during the February attack on the community, alongside 145 other victims abducted largely from neighbouring Niger State.

During the mass abduction from the Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama LGA, Kwara State, 176 people, mostly women and children, were initially taken by terrorists.

When security operations led to their freedom, 163 victims were officially handed over and announced as rescued. Survivors recounted that 13 victims died during their nearly six months in captivity.

The captives endured harsh living conditions in the forest, severe hunger, often receiving only one meal a day, lack of medical care, and exposure to extreme weather before makeshift rain shelters were eventually erected.

The victims were reportedly recovered from the Kainji Lake National Park area following a joint operation involving the military, police and counter-terrorism personnel.

The Presidency described the operation as an intelligence-led security success, with President Tinubu commending the security agencies involved.

The rescued victims were subsequently taken for medical evaluation before being reunited with their families. Reports indicated that many of the former captives were in poor physical condition after spending months in the forest.

The government’s account has, however, provided limited details about precisely how the captives were released, including whether negotiations took place with their captors or whether any money changed hands.

German authorities deported at least 137 Nigerian citizens across five chartered flights between February and June 2026, according to migration monitoring reports.

Data from the DERS Team and Refugees4refugees.org shows the deportations occurred in phases, with 27 Nigerians returned in February, 37 in March through a joint European Union operation, 24 in April, 23 in May, and 26 in June.

The February operation departed from Stuttgart and landed at Lagos Cargo Airport, with Baden-Württemberg listed as a primary participant. The March operation represented the largest single return of Nigerians recorded over three years and was executed in collaboration with Spain, Austria, and Belgium.

The reports indicate a growing reliance on multi-national chartered flights by European states to repatriate undocumented or non-resident individuals to Nigeria.

The Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has ordered the deployment of 10,210 personnel and specialised tactical units to reinforce security operations across Osun State ahead of the governorship election.

The National Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Babawale Afolabi, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the deployment, which commenced on Monday, was part of the Corps’ efforts to ensure that voters, electoral officials, observers, journalists and residents participate in the electoral process without fear or intimidation.

According to the statement, uniformed and undercover personnel from the Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Kogi, Delta and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) State Commands, with about 1,000 personnel from each command, would reinforce the Osun State Command and strengthen security coverage across the state alongside other security agencies deployed for the election.

The statement said Audi had also directed the deployment of specialised formations with capabilities suited to the security needs of the election.

They include the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad (SIS), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, Specialised Female Squad, Mining Marshals, Special Strike Force, Crack Squad and K9 Unit.

“The specialised teams will complement the regular deployment through intelligence gathering, crime prevention, detection, protection of critical assets, crowd control and other security responsibilities within their respective areas of competence,” the statement read.

To ensure effective coordination and supervision, the statement said the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Operations, DCG Ayuba Phillip, alongside designated Assistant Commandants-General (ACGs) and other senior officers, would relocate to Osun State to oversee the Corps’ election security operations.

Audi assured the people of Osun State that the NSCDC would remain professional, impartial and respectful of the rights of all citizens throughout the electoral process.

He said the protection of election materials, electoral officials and voters remained critical to the successful conduct of the election.

“As an agency saddled with the responsibility of protecting critical infrastructure and national assets, the safety and security of election materials and electoral officials are very critical alongside the electorates; you have the responsibility of ensuring unbiased synergy with other security agencies on election duty to actualize a free, fair and credible election.

“Our personnel have been properly briefed on the need to be professional, neutral and respectful in the discharge of their duties. In the light of the above, the NSCDC, in collaboration with other security agencies on election duty, will not tolerate any activity intended to jeopardise the election process.

“Criminal-minded persons and political thugs willing to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election would face the wrath of the law as prescribed in the Electoral Act,” he said.

The NSCDC appealed to all political parties, candidates, supporters and residents to conduct themselves peacefully and allow the democratic process to take its course.

It said the Corps would continue to work closely with the Nigeria Police Force, the military and other sister security agencies under the established inter-agency security framework to ensure effective coordination and a peaceful electoral environment across the state’s 30 Local Government Areas.

Audi also called on the people of Osun State to remain calm, peaceful and vigilant and cooperate with security personnel throughout the election period.

He urged members of the public to promptly report suspicious activities or security concerns to the appropriate security authorities.