How Terrorists Killed 75 in Kwara Communities — Victims’ Families

Fresh details have emerged on the deadly attack carried out by suspected terrorists on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, where at least 75 residents were killed.

Accounts from victims’ families and survivors revealed that the attackers stormed the agrarian communities in the early hours of Tuesday, opening fire on residents and setting homes ablaze, leaving scores dead and many others injured or displaced.

Relatives of the victims said the attackers arrived in large numbers, moving from house to house while residents attempted to flee for safety. Several families were reportedly wiped out during the coordinated assault, while farmlands and properties were destroyed.

A resident, who lost two family members in the attack, said the community was caught off guard as there was no visible security presence at the time of the incident.

“They came heavily armed. People were running in different directions. Some were shot, others were burned inside their homes,” the grieving relative said.

According to Rauf Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, 75 people were confirmed killed during the attack, making it one of the deadliest assaults recorded in the state in recent years.

The attack has sparked outrage and renewed fears over the spread of terrorist activities into North-Central Nigeria, an area previously considered relatively peaceful.

In response to the incident, President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama LGA to reinforce security and prevent further attacks.

In a statement issued on Wednesday night, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the president directed the establishment of a new military command that will lead a special operation codenamed “Operation Savannah Shield.”

Tinubu said the operation would “checkmate the barbaric terrorists and protect defenceless communities,” while assuring residents that the federal government would not allow criminal elements to overrun any part of the country.

The Kwara State Government also confirmed that relief materials and security reinforcements are being mobilised for the affected communities, while efforts are ongoing to support displaced residents.

Meanwhile, families of the victims have called on the government to ensure sustained military presence in the area and bring the perpetrators to justice, warning that sporadic deployments will not be enough to restore lasting peace.

As investigations continue, residents of Woro and Nuku remain gripped by fear, mourning their dead and uncertain about returning to their homes.