Kwara village head laments 10-hour bandit siege before military intervention
Armed bandits reportedly unleashed a prolonged attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, operating for nearly 10 hours before soldiers arrived, the village head has said.
The traditional leader of the community, Umar Bio Salihu, disclosed that the attackers stormed Woro at about 5pm on Tuesday and carried out killings, arson and destruction until around 3am on Wednesday, when military personnel eventually reached the area. By the time troops arrived, the assailants had already fled.
Speaking during an interview, Salihu said the community had been left vulnerable following the withdrawal of soldiers previously stationed in the area. He explained that a military base manned by about 15 soldiers was abandoned months earlier after it came under attack, creating a security vacuum that emboldened the bandits.
READ ALSO: How armed bandits killed dozens of residents in Kwara communities
According to him, several houses were burnt, farmlands destroyed and dozens of residents killed during the assault. He added that about 75 bodies had so far been buried, while search efforts continued for more victims in surrounding bushes.
The village head identified the attackers as members of a criminal group operating in the area, noting that the attack was not religiously motivated, as most of the victims were Muslims. He also lamented the absence of air support or timely ground response throughout the duration of the нападение.
Following the incident, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited the affected communities and ordered the immediate deployment of additional security personnel to prevent further attacks and reassure residents.
READ ALSO: Court sentences Bureau De Change operator in Kwara over refusal to accept Naira
The latest attack has renewed concerns over delayed security response to rural communities and the growing threat posed by armed bandits in parts of Kwara State and the wider North-Central region.
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