President Bola Tinubu has ordered the deployment of an army battalion to Woro, a village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, following a deadly attack by Boko Haram terrorists that left scores of residents dead.
The directive was conveyed in a statement issued late Wednesday by the President’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday evening, reportedly lasted several hours and claimed dozens of lives.
While the Kwara State Government confirmed 75 fatalities, the Red Cross said 162 deaths had been verified as of Wednesday evening. Earlier reports put the casualty figure at about 170.
According to Onanuga, the newly deployed military command will lead Operation Savannah Shield, aimed at curbing terrorist activities in the area and protecting vulnerable communities.
He said President Tinubu strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “cowardly and beastly”, and accused the perpetrators of deliberately targeting defenceless villagers.
The statement added that the president believes the victims, who were Muslims, were killed for refusing to embrace extremist ideology promoted by the terrorists.
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Tinubu also commended the villagers for rejecting radical teachings and called for collaboration between federal and state authorities to provide relief to the affected community and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
The president expressed condolences to families of the victims and prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed.
Details of the Attack
Residents said the attack began around 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday and continued until the early hours of Wednesday, when the assailants withdrew from the community.
The incident occurred about five months after the terrorists allegedly sent a warning letter to the district head of Woro, Salihu Umar, informing him of plans to visit the community to propagate their ideology.
Umar reportedly alerted the Ilorin Emirate Council, leading to the deployment of soldiers to the area at the time, which sources believe deterred an earlier attack.
Local sources now suspect the recent assault may have been carried out in retaliation for the community’s engagement with security forces.
While Reuters quoted a local politician, Sa’idu Ahmed, as estimating the death toll at 40, residents later said the number of casualties had risen significantly. However, Rafiu Ajakaiye, spokesperson for Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said the Emir of Kaiama confirmed 75 deaths during a visit by the governor’s delegation.
Police authorities in the state also confirmed the attack, noting that several people were killed, others injured, and homes destroyed. Sources said the palace of the district head was among buildings set ablaze.
The state police spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said tactical police units, working with the military, forest guards, and local vigilantes, have been deployed to secure the area.
She added that investigations are ongoing to track the attackers, who reportedly fled towards the Kainji National Park forest.
Sadiku-Led Boko Haram Faction
Security sources said the attack was carried out by a Boko Haram faction led by Mallam Sadiku, which relocated to the Kainji forest reserve in July last year after sustained military offensives and internal clashes with a bandit leader, Dogo Gide.
The group had previously operated from the Alawa forest reserve in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, displacing many residents through repeated attacks.
In recent months, the group has been linked to several violent incidents, including the abduction of more than 300 students and staff from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, near the Kainji National Park, and a January attack on Kasuwan Daji that left over 30 people dead.
Sources said women and children abducted during the attacks remain in captivity.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
