At least 162 people were killed in a brutal attack on Woro village in Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State, on Tuesday, in what has been described as the deadliest assault in the state this year.
According to Vanguard, Red Cross official, Babaomo Ayodeji, confirmed the death toll, while local authorities suggested it could be as high as 170.
Sa’idu Ahmed, a local politician, said the attackers rounded up villagers, tied their hands, and executed them, burning homes and shops in the process.
“I am in the village along with military personnel, sorting dead bodies and searching nearby areas,” Ahmed said. Many villagers fled into surrounding bushes, and several, including the traditional ruler, remain missing.
Residents claimed the attackers were jihadists who had previously preached in the community, demanding villagers renounce the Nigerian state in favor of Sharia law.
The gunmen reportedly opened fire during a sermon when residents resisted.
At least 75 victims were given a mass burial on Wednesday, led by the Chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area, Abubakar Danladi.
Survivor Umar Tanko recounted losing family members: “My daughter and two sons were shot dead, while my second wife and two others were abducted.” Another survivor, Razaq Abdulazeez, narrowly escaped into the bush with his family.
Among the victims was Salihu Bio Khalid, a midwifery student at KWASCONS and former SUG president, who was killed alongside his brother.
The National Association of Nigeria Comrades described the attack as devastating, urging justice for the victims.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq condemned the attack as a cowardly act, while the Speaker of the State House of Assembly and Senator Saliu Mustapha called for intensified military action. President Bola Tinubu has directed immediate troop deployment to the state.
In a related incident, at least 17 people, including a Mobile Police officer, were killed in an attack by suspected armed herdsmen on Abande market in Benue State.
Witnesses said assailants looted shops and set parts of the market on fire. Community leader Lawrence Akerigba said residents were forced to flee, while police confirmed five deaths, including an officer.
Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly act of terror,” and ordered security agencies to pursue the perpetrators. PDP in Benue described the attack as “gruesome and barbaric,” while lawmaker Terseer Ugbor linked the violence to illegal mining in the area, warning of escalating security risks in the border regions.
