More than 100 people are feared dead following a brutal nighttime attack by suspected Islamic militants on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The assault has intensified public scrutiny of the Federal Government’s security strategy amid a surge in extremist violence across north-central Nigeria.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq confirmed 75 deaths on Wednesday night while addressing residents at the Emir of Kaiama’s palace. He described the victims as “local Muslims massacred for refusing to surrender to extremists preaching a strange doctrine.”
The governor revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the immediate deployment of an Army battalion to the area under Operation Savannah Shield to launch counter-offensives.
The armed group Lakurawa, believed to be linked to the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP), is widely suspected of carrying out the attack. Residents and sources reported that the militants had earlier preached in border villages in neighboring Niger State, urging locals to reject Nigeria’s constitution and adopt Islamic law (Sharia). When met with resistance in Woro and Nuku, they opened indiscriminate fire, killing dozens and burning homes.
One community source told journalists: “When they brought the same message to Woro and Nuku, some people challenged them. That angered the bandits, and they opened fire on the gathering, shooting indiscriminately.”
Survivors shared harrowing accounts:
– The head of Woro village, Alhaji Umar Tanko, lost his daughter, two sons, and had his junior wife and two others abducted.
– Resident Razaq Abdulazeez narrowly escaped with his family, noting that some villagers climbed trees to evade the attackers.
Reports indicate that around 70 bodies were buried in a mass grave in Woro on Wednesday afternoon, though exact figures remain contested due to conflicting accounts from affected communities.
The lawmaker representing the area in the House of Representatives, Mohammed Bio, confirmed the attack but noted uncertainty over the death toll, with estimates ranging from 100 to over 160.
“We don’t have the exact figures. There are killings, but no one can ascertain the correct number. We are calling on the Federal Government to step in and assist us in protecting lives and property. The situation is quite devastating,” Bio said.
Federal and State Reactions
Former Senate President and ex-Kwara Governor Bukola Saraki described the killings as a “national disaster” requiring direct federal intervention. In a Facebook post, he urged President Tinubu to direct the General Officer Commanding of the Second Mechanised Infantry Division (Ibadan) to deploy troops and establish a permanent base in the affected districts.
“Kwara State is too strategic to this country that we should not allow insurgency to gain ground there. It is a state located in the middle of the country and serves as a bridge between the North and the Southwest. It also has an international border with the Republic of Benin,” Saraki stated.
He emphasized that insurgents fleeing military pressure in other north-central states should not find refuge in Kwara.
The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the attack as “gruesome, despicable, inhuman and callous,” criticizing Governor AbdulRazaq’s response as “cosmetic” and lacking concrete relief measures. The party called for immediate humanitarian aid, medical support, and decisive leadership.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) described the renewed killings in Kwara and other states as “unfortunate and avoidable,” urging a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, including investment in drone technology and regional cooperation with Niger and Chad.
Related Attacks in Benue and Other States
In a separate incident on the same day, suspected Fulani bandits attacked Abande community in Mbaikyor Ward, Turan, Kwande LGA of Benue State on market day. Casualty figures varied: a former councillor reported 17 deaths (including a police officer), the traditional ruler (Ter Kwande) confirmed six community members and one policeman, while the Benue Police Command verified five fatalities.
Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the assault as “an assault on our shared humanity” and vowed justice for the perpetrators.
Recent weeks have seen a sharp escalation in terrorist attacks across north-central and northwest Nigeria:
– At least 271 people killed and 253 abducted in the past four weeks in Niger, Kaduna, Kwara, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
– 177 church worshippers abducted in Kajuru LGA, Kaduna.
– 60 killed in Kasuwan Daji Market, Niger State.
– Multiple killings and abductions in Katsina, Sokoto, and Kwara border areas.
Security Deployments
Soldiers and Forest Guards have taken control of Woro and Nuku communities. The Nigerian Army has intensified operations in Kwara through units from Operation Fansan Yamma and Operation Whirl Stroke, targeting forests and rural hideouts.
The Senate on Wednesday expressed grave concern over escalating violence in Katsina’s Funtua Zone (35 killed in 24 hours across multiple LGAs) and urged President Tinubu to fulfill his pledge to establish a military barracks there.
The worsening insecurity has prompted renewed calls for decisive federal action, enhanced community cooperation, and structural reforms to Nigeria’s security framework to prevent further massacres in vulnerable rural areas.
