How armed bandits killed dozens of residents in Kwara communities
Military forces and Forest Guards have taken over Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State following a deadly bandit attack on Tuesday evening that left numerous residents dead.
A local government source, who spoke to journalists on Wednesday morning on condition of anonymity, confirmed the deployment of security forces and the rising casualty figure.
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“The casualties are over forty as we speak. Soldiers and Forest Guards have taken control of the two communities. It is a very sad development at a time we thought peace was returning after previous attacks,” the source said.
According to reports, the attack was carried out by bandits from neighbouring Niger State villages, who opened fire on residents in Woro and Nuku, setting their homes and valuables ablaze.
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“The bandits opened fire indiscriminately on the community. No fewer than forty residents were killed, and only a few managed to escape. Preparations for mass burials are underway,” the source added.
In response, the Kwara State Government confirmed the attack in a statement signed by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye.
The governor condemned the assault as “a cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells following ongoing counterterrorism campaigns in parts of the state.”
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The statement added that the attack appeared aimed at distracting security forces, who have recently dismantled several terrorist and kidnapping gangs across the state.
Governor AbdulRazaq expressed condolences to the families of the victims and assured residents that counterterrorism operations would continue.
Security personnel remain on high alert in the affected communities as investigations continue and measures are taken to prevent further attacks.
Security in Nigeria has come under intense scrutiny in recent months since US President Donald Trump alleged a “genocide” of Christians in Nigeria.
The claim has been rejected by the federal government and many independent experts, who say Nigeria’s security crises claim the lives of both Christians and Muslims, often without distinction.
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There has been a rise in terrorist attacks across several North-West, North-East, and North-Central states in recent months, alongside increased looting and kidnapping for ransom by armed groups commonly referred to as “bandits,” amid ongoing intercommunal violence.
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