Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Saturday morning to condole with the government and people of the state following the deadly terrorist attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area.
Shettima’s aircraft landed at the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport around 10:30 am. He was received by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly Yakubu Salihu, Senator representing Kwara North Sadiq Umar, member representing Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency Mukhtar Sagaya, security commanders, APC State Chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi, other party executives, members of the state executive and legislative councils, and local government chairmen.
Accompanying the Vice President were Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Senator Ali Ndume, and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
The visit comes four days after gunmen killed over 160 people in Woro and Nuku communities on Tuesday evening. The attackers burned shops, the traditional ruler’s palace, and other structures, while wounded residents fled into the bushes. The Emir of Woro, Alhaji Saliu Umar, remains missing, and his two wives, several children, the Chief Imam, a school principal, and students were among those confirmed dead.
The refusal of villagers to submit to ideological indoctrination by the extremist group Mahmuda was cited as the trigger for the indiscriminate shooting and abductions. Two vehicles belonging to the village head were reportedly used by the bandits to transport abducted residents.
The attack followed recent military operations in the area targeting “terrorist elements.” Last month, the military announced “sustained coordinated offensive operations” in Kwara, claiming to have neutralized around 150 bandits, destroyed hideouts, and degraded logistics networks.
In response to the escalating insecurity, Kwara State imposed curfews in certain areas and temporarily closed schools before ordering them reopened on Monday.
Governor AbdulRazaq, who visited the community earlier, described the killings as genocide and vowed that assailants and criminal elements along the Kwara-Niger border would be flushed out within a month.
The Vice President’s condolence visit underscores federal concern over the worsening security situation in north-central Nigeria and signals continued collaboration between the federal government and affected states to restore peace and protect vulnerable communities.
