A wave of horror has gripped Kwara State as the full scale of the Tuesday night massacre in Kaiama Local Government Area comes to light. While initial reports suggested 75 deaths, local lawmakers and the Red Cross now confirm that at least 162 people—and potentially over 200—were brutally slaughtered in Woro and Nuku communities.
The attacks, which began around 5:30 PM on February 3 and lasted for nearly 10 hours, were carried out by hundreds of gunmen on motorbikes.
The "Execution Phase"
According to harrowing eyewitness accounts, the attackers—suspected to be members of the Lakurawa or Boko Haram extremist groups—rounded up young men and families, tied their hands behind their backs, and executed them at close range.
The motive was chillingly clear: Indoctrination. The militants had previously sent warning letters to the villages demanding they adopt a radical version of Sharia law. When the residents of Woro and Nuku refused to surrender their faith and way of life, the gunmen returned to "punish" the community.
Tragic Loss of Leaders
The community has lost its pillars. Among the confirmed dead are:
The Chief Imam of Woro.
A School Principal and a Headmistress.
Several Schoolchildren caught in the crossfire.
The Traditional Ruler (Emir of Woro), Alhaji Salihu Umar, is reportedly missing, while his palace and shops were razed to the ground.
FG Response: Shettima and Army Move In
In response to the carnage, President Bola Tinubu has deployed a full Army Battalion to Kaiama under "Operation Savannah Shield." Vice President Kashim Shettima led a high-level delegation to the state on Saturday, promising that "all hands are on deck" to secure the border with the Republic of Benin.
Are Your Loved Ones Safe?
Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the surrounding bushes where many fled. Survivors are currently being treated at hospitals in Kaiama and the state capital.
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