In a tragic incident, two villages in Kwara state, Nigeria were attacked by gunmen, resulting in the deaths of at least 162 individuals. Some sources, such as NBC News, Amnesty International, and Reuters, suggest the death toll may be as high as 170. This information was relayed by Mohammed Omar Bio, a member of parliament.
The assailants targeted the villages of Woro and Nuku in the Kaiama region. After rounding up and binding villagers, they executed them. They then set fire to homes and shops before fleeing the scene. No group has officially claimed responsibility for the horrifying event.
Following the assault, Saidu Baba Ahmed, a local politician, reported that security forces were searching the area for survivors and assessing the damage. He was present in the village with military personnel, assisting in the recovery of bodies and further investigations.
After the attack, the traditional king of the village was reported missing. As the violence unfolded, villagers with gunshot wounds fled into the nearby bushland.
Survivors reported to news agencies that the attackers demanded that villagers adhere to Sharia law. The villagers’ refusal to comply prompted the gunmen to open fire.
In response to the attack, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has deployed an army battalion to the Kaiama district in Kwara state. The military will lead a new operation, codenamed “Operation Savannah Shield,” aimed at protecting local communities. Tinubu condemned the attack as cowardly and barbaric, praising the villagers for resisting the imposition of extremist rule.
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Governor of Kwara state, also condemned the attack, calling it an act of cowardice and frustration by terrorist cells. This was in response to ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the region, he explained.
Amnesty International criticized the security failures that allowed the attack, calling them unacceptable. The organization revealed that the villagers had been receiving warning letters from the gunmen for over five months before the incident.
This incident is not an isolated one. On February 3, a separate attack in Doma village in Katsina state resulted in at least 13 fatalities, as reported by police spokesman Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu. Local officials suggest the death toll may be higher, with some sources indicating more than 20 fatalities.
In prior weeks, armed extremists in the northeast killed at least 36 people in separate attacks. In January, gunmen kidnapped 177 churchgoers from three churches in Kurmin Wali, Kaduna State. While 11 captives managed to escape, 166 remained missing until their release in early February, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria.
Nigeria continues to struggle with various overlapping security issues, including the presence of Islamic State-affiliated groups in the northern regions. In response, the Nigerian military launched extensive offensive operations against terrorist elements in Kwara state last month.
The military reported neutralizing or killing 150 individuals in January as part of its intensified campaign against terrorism. In light of the current security situation, local authorities in Kwara state imposed curfews and temporarily closed schools.
The worsening violence in Nigeria has attracted international attention. President Donald Trump has criticized Nigeria for failing to protect its Christian population, even designating the country as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom in October 2025.
On February 3, 2026, Gen. Dagvin Anderson, head of U.S. Africa Command, confirmed the United States had deployed a small military team to Nigeria. This followed discussions with President Tinubu in Rome about increasing collaboration to address these security challenges.
Kwara state, located in Nigeria’s central region, has become a frequent target for armed groups who conduct raids, kidnappings, and livestock thefts. Bordering Niger state, Kwara has also seen an upsurge in attacks by various armed factions.
The assault on Woro and Nuku signifies a major event in Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis. Despite government assurances of progress against armed groups, mass casualty attacks persist.
Authorities in both northern and southern Nigeria continue to face criticism for perceived inaction in combating the violence. Many argue that political activities often overshadow security concerns, even as communities continue to face deadly attacks and kidnappings.
