Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has confirmed that at least 75 persons were killed during Tuesday’s attack on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state by suspected terrorists.
The governor disclosed this on Wednesday night during a visit to Kaiama, where he met with community leaders, security chiefs and affected residents.
He said the victims were mostly local Muslims who were reportedly killed for refusing to submit to extremists preaching what he described as a “strange doctrine.”AbdulRazaq said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the immediate deployment of an army battalion to the area to carry out counter-offensive operations against the attackers.
He announced that the security intervention has been codenamed Operation Savannah Shield.According to the governor, the operation will involve sustained military action to track down and neutralise terrorist elements operating within the Kaiama axis and border communities near Niger Republic.
The attack on Woro community reportedly occurred shortly after 5 p.m. on Tuesday, when gunmen arrived on motorcycles, surrounded the area and opened fire from multiple directions.
A younger brother of the traditional ruler of Woro, Mr. Ali Umar, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the attackers prevented residents from escaping, shooting those who attempted to flee.Umar said several people were abducted during the attack, including the wife of the traditional ruler, his mother and three of his children.
He added that the assault triggered widespread panic, forcing residents to abandon their homes and leaving the community nearly deserted.
He also revealed that intelligence reports warning of a possible attack had earlier been shared with local authorities and escalated to higher levels of government.
Although soldiers reportedly patrolled the area earlier on the day of the attack, the assailants later returned to carry out the assault.
Killings were also recorded in nearby Nuku community during the same incident.
Governor AbdulRazaq said injured victims were taken to the General Hospital, while some were referred to a teaching hospital for advanced medical care.
He condemned the attack, describing it as a cowardly act by terrorist cells reacting to intensified counterterrorism efforts and recent security successes in parts of the state.
He extended condolences to the families of the victims and assured residents that the state government, in collaboration with federal security agencies, would restore peace to the affected communities.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Mr. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, also condemned the killings and called for an immediate escalation of military operations along the Kaiama–Niger border corridor.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdukadir Shehu, the speaker urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies, warning that criminal elements may attempt to relocate as military pressure increases across the state.
Danladi-Salihu reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to supporting all necessary measures to protect lives and property in Kwara State.
