Dozens of residents were killed in a ferocious shooting attack on two villages in Nigeria’s western Kwara State on Tuesday. The assault targeted the communities of Woro and Nuku after they reportedly refused to join extremist groups. President Bola Tinubu has since ordered the deployment of a military battalion to the affected area to restore order.
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While initial reports cited 75 fatalities, the Red Cross and Amnesty International now suggest the death toll has reached 162. Many victims were shot at close range or burnt alive inside their homes. Local traditional leader Umar Bio Salihu recounted the night of terror, during which gunmen killed two of his sons. The attackers also kidnapped his wife and three daughters before fleeing into the nearby forest.
The Kwara massacre was allegedly triggered by the community’s rejection of a strict extremist doctrine. Residents had previously received letters from militants claiming they wished to preach in the village. When the community resisted these advances, the gunmen launched a raid that lasted several hours. Beyond the killings, at least 38 people were abducted and numerous shops were set alight during the violence.
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Federal response and international condemnation
In response to the Kwara massacre, the Nigerian government launched Operation Savanna Shield to stabilise the region. President Tinubu described the attack as “cowardly and inhumane” during a meeting with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in Abuja. The United States Mission in Nigeria also condemned the “senseless violence” and welcomed the deployment of security forces.
Security experts suggest that Kwara is becoming a new frontier for armed groups seeking to expand their influence. The Nigerian military is now working alongside tactical intelligence teams to forestall additional attacks. Authorities continue to analyse the movement of these groups to prevent further bloodshed in the country’s heartland.
Image via BBC.
