Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has confirmed that at least 75 residents were killed in a brutal attack on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area on Tuesday evening, describing the massacre as retaliation by terrorist cells against villagers who refused to adopt a “perverted form of Islamic doctrine.”
The governor made the disclosure on Wednesday during a visit to the affected area, accompanied by security chiefs and members of his cabinet. He addressed survivors and local leaders at a traditional palace setting, where he commiserated with the bereaved families.
A video shared on the official Kwara State Government X account shows Governor AbdulRazaq standing amid military officers and community leaders as he condemned the killings.
“We commiserate with you over the death of 75 of your subjects. May Allah grant them aljana Firdaus,” the governor said.
He explained that the victims described as devout local Muslims were targeted specifically because they rejected attempts by extremists to impose an altered, violent version of Islamic teachings.
“And from the information I’ve been getting, this village refuses to succumb to a perverted form of Islamic doctrine. They are lying under their immolation, abiding by their Islamic faith. And these villagers, they don’t want any alteration. And because they refuse to change doctrine in their faith, they were attacked and massacred,” AbdulRazaq stated.
He contrasted the attack with typical banditry patterns of kidnapping or ransacking, calling it a “pure massacre” that deserved strong condemnation.
In response to the incident, the governor announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the immediate deployment of an army battalion to lead counter-offensives under “Operation Savannah Shield.”
Kwara State Police spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed the attack began around 6:00 pm on Tuesday. She said security agencies had been deployed to the communities, though the exact casualty figure remained under verification, with reports of missing persons still being investigated.
The assault is part of a disturbing escalation of extremist violence in border areas between Kwara and Niger States, where armed groups have reportedly been attempting to enforce ideological demands on rural populations.
Governor AbdulRazaq reiterated the state government’s commitment to supporting affected families and working with federal forces to restore peace and security in the region.
