Woro village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State woke up to devastation after a brutal assault that residents say wiped out entire families in a matter of hours.
What began as a normal Tuesday quickly turned into one of the bloodiest days the state has seen this year, with confirmed reports placing the death toll at no fewer than 162 people.
Local authorities and the Red Cross confirmed the figures, while villagers described scenes of horror — bodies strewn across compounds, homes burning, and people fleeing into nearby bushes with gunshot wounds.
Some estimates from the area suggest the number of dead could be even higher.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to accounts from the community, the gunmen moved methodically.
Villagers were reportedly rounded up, had their hands tied behind their backs, and were executed at close range.
Homes, shops and other properties were later set on fire, leaving much of the village in ruins.
A politician from the Kaiama axis, Sa’idu Ahmed, said he was on ground alongside security personnel, helping to recover bodies and search surrounding areas for survivors.
He added that many residents escaped with injuries into the bush, while others — including the traditional ruler of Woro — were still missing more than 24 hours later.
Residents believe the attackers were jihadists who had previously visited the community to preach, demanding loyalty to Sharia law over the Nigerian state.
Tension reportedly escalated when villagers resisted, and gunfire broke out during one such sermon.
Mass Burial Brings Grim Closure for Dozens
By Wednesday afternoon, grief took a collective form as at least 75 victims were laid to rest in a mass burial at Woro.
Though rumours suggested the death toll had exceeded 150, a government official confirmed that 75 bodies were buried during the ceremony.
The Chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area, Abubakar Danladi, led officials to the community for the burial, as families struggled to come to terms with the scale of loss.
Survivors Tell Stories of Loss and Escape
For many, survival came at a heavy personal cost.
Umar Tanko, the village head of Woro, said he was away from home when the attackers struck.
By the time he returned, his world had changed forever.
“My daughter and two sons were shot dead,” he said, adding that his second wife and two others were abducted during the attack.
Another resident, Razaq Abdulazeez, recalled how he narrowly escaped with his family after seeing crowds running toward the outskirts of town.
With little time to think, he gathered his loved ones and fled into the forest.
Others, he said, climbed trees to avoid being caught.
Student Leader and Brother Among the Dead
Among the victims was Salihu Bio Khalid, a student of the Kwara State College of Nursing Sciences.
He was a midwifery student and former Student Union Government president, reportedly killed alongside his brother.
The National Association of Nigeria Comrades, Kwara Axis, described the killings as devastating and called for tighter security, a transparent investigation and justice for the victims.
Government, Lawmakers and Parties React
The Kwara State Government confirmed the incident, with Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq mourning the victims and describing the attack as a cowardly act by terrorist elements under pressure from ongoing security operations.
The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, and Senator Saliu Mustapha of Kwara Central both urged the military to intensify operations and deploy more troops to vulnerable communities.
The Peoples Democratic Party in the state also condemned the killings, calling for urgent humanitarian support for survivors and swift action to arrest those responsible.
Tinubu Orders Troop Deployment
In response to the worsening situation, President Bola Tinubu reportedly ordered the immediate deployment of troops to Kwara State.
Details of the directive were still emerging at the time of reporting, but the order was said to have been issued late Wednesday evening.
Fresh Bloodshed in Benue Market
As Kwara mourned, another attack unfolded in Benue State.
At least 17 people, including a Mobile Police officer, were killed when suspected armed herdsmen stormed Abande settlement in Kwande Local Government Area.
The attack happened during a busy market day, with witnesses saying the assailants opened fire indiscriminately, looted traders and set parts of the market ablaze before fleeing.
Looting, Fire and Fear in Abande
A community leader, Lawrence Akerigba, said the attackers carted away millions of naira from traders before torching the market.
Bodies were later evacuated to nearby Jato-Aka, including that of a Mobile Police officer believed to be the unit commander on duty.
Residents have since fled their homes, with Akerigba warning that insecurity in Turan District has worsened steadily since the start of the year, claiming more than 76 lives.
Police and Governor Give Conflicting Figures
The Benue State Police Command confirmed the incident but reported fewer casualties, saying one police officer and four civilians were killed.
According to police spokesperson DSP Udeme Edet, the officer died while responding to a distress call.
Additional Mobile Police units and armoured vehicles have since been deployed to the area on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari.
Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on humanity and vowing that security agencies would pursue the perpetrators relentlessly.
Political Tensions and Deeper Worries
The PDP in Benue State rejected the police figures, insisting that at least 17 people were killed.
The party accused the government of failing to protect lives and property.
Meanwhile, federal lawmaker Terseer Ugbor linked the violence to illegal mining activities in Kwande, warning that unchecked exploitation of minerals could turn the Benue–Taraba–Cameroon border into a major security flashpoint.
As communities in both states bury their dead, questions linger — about protection, accountability, and how many more lives will be lost before peace returns.
