President Bola Tinubu has ordered the deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama Local Government Area in Kwara State following coordinated terrorist attacks that left at least 162 people feared killed, one of the deadliest assaults recorded in Nigeria so far this year.
The attacks occurred on Tuesday night in Woro and Nuku villages, where gunmen stormed the communities in a well coordinated operation. As of Wednesday afternoon, the death toll stood at 162, according to Mohammed Omar Bio, the lawmaker representing the area.
“This is a devastating tragedy for our people, As at this afternoon, we have confirmed 162 deaths, and rescue efforts are still ongoing as some residents remain unaccounted for,”Bio said
Bio revealed the attackers were members of the Lakurawa armed group, believed to be linked to the Islamic State, although no group has officially claimed responsibility.
Local sources said the assailants rounded up residents, restrained them and carried out mass executions, while homes and shops were set ablaze, forcing survivors to flee into nearby bushland.
A Kaiama based politician, Sa’idu Baba Ahmed, said many victims escaped with gunshot wounds, while several others, including the traditional ruler of one of the affected communities, were still missing.
“Many people ran into the bushes with bullet wounds, and we are still searching for those who have not returned, including our traditional ruler,” Ahmed said.
Residents told reporters that the attackers had previously visited the villages under the guise of religious preaching, demanding that locals renounce allegiance to the Nigerian state and adopt strict sharia law. When the communities resisted, the gunmen reportedly opened fire.
In response, President Tinubu ordered the immediate deployment of troops, with the new military formation set to lead Operation Savannah Shield to counter terrorist activities and protect vulnerable communities.
Condemning the assault, the President described it as “cowardly and beastly,” expressing anger that the victims were targeted for rejecting violent extremism.
“It is commendable that the community members, even though Muslims, refused to be conscripted into a weird belief that promoted violence over peace and dialogue,” Tinubu said.
The President directed federal and state agencies to collaborate in providing relief to affected residents and ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice. He also condoled with bereaved families and the people of Kwara State.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq also condemned the killings, describing them as a “cowardly” act by terrorist elements reacting to intensified military pressure.
“These senseless killings will not break our resolve,” the governor said,
assuring residents that security agencies were working to restore peace in the area.
Kwara shares a border with Niger State, where armed groups have expanded their operations in recent years. The Nigerian military says it has launched sustained counterterrorism operations across the region.