Terrorists from Boko Haram have threatened to execute 176 women and children they abducted from the Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The group issued the ultimatum after Friday prayers.
They warned that they will take drastic action if the federal government fails to meet their demands within seven days.
Salihu Bio, the traditional ruler of Woro, confirmed the threat on Monday.
His own wife is among those held captive.
One of the hostages contacted her family on Saturday and passed on the message from the terrorists.
She told relatives that all the captives were still alive at that time and that the terrorists had begun teaching them Arabic and Islamic knowledge.
According to Bio, the terrorists complained that the government was not taking the situation seriously.
They also expressed frustration over the resources they were using to feed the group with no progress in talks.
A community source added that the terrorists said they would begin to marry off some of the girls and eliminate those they saw as a burden if no agreement was reached by the deadline.
Families in the area say they feel helpless as the hostages include their wives and children.
In a video released by the terrorists, an armed fighter claimed responsibility for the abduction of people from Woro and nearby Kososo.
He stated that the group had changed the victims’ way of life through indoctrination.
The fighter said the hostages had begged for a chance to appeal to the government, and that this was their final opportunity.
So far, no official response has come from the police or the federal government on the latest threat.
Residents of the affected communities now wait anxiously as the one-week period runs.
The abduction has left families in Woro and Kososo deeply worried about the safety of their loved ones.
Many hope that negotiations will succeed before the deadline passes and prevent any further harm.
