Terrorists attacked Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State late Tuesday. They killed at least 75 residents and set several houses ablaze. The victims, local Muslims, refused to adopt the extremists’ perverted form of Islamic doctrine, which triggered the massacre.
Authorities reported that the assault marked a shift from previous kidnappings, as attackers focused solely on execution.
However survivors fled the area, leaving communities deserted. Security forces arrived afterward to assess the damage and recover bodies.
Presidential Response
Bola Tinubu, President of Nigeria, ordered the immediate deployment of a military battalion to Kaiama on Wednesday. This action launched Operation Savannah Shield to restore security and prevent further attacks.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, announced the move via X: “Help is on the way for the beleaguered people of Kaiama and others as President Tinubu orders the deployment of a military battalion, the appointment of a commander and the start of Operation Savannah Shield.”
Additionally the Senate urged the establishment of a permanent military base in Kwara to curb escalating violence.
Governor’s Condemnation
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Governor of Kwara State, visited the affected area with service chiefs on Wednesday night. At the Emir of Kaiama’s palace, he condemned the killings as a cowardly act.
AbdulRazaq stated: “We commiserate with you over the death of 75 of your subjects. May Allah grant them aljana Firdaus. And from the information I’ve been getting, this village refuses to succumb to a perverted form of Islamic doctrine… And because they refuse to change doctrine in their faith, they were attacked and massacred. It’s different from what we used to see… But this was just a pure massacre.”
Ongoing Military Operations
Troops from the 22 Armoured Brigade launched forest operations, neutralizing over 150 terrorists in Kwara. Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff, directed forces to flush out bandits within one month. He addressed troops in Ilorin: “The Nigerian Army would not allow the insurgency in the North-East to spread to the North-Central.”
