More than 130 people have been killed and several others displaced following coordinated gunmen attacks on communities in Kwara, Katsina and Benue states within the last 48 hours, triggering fresh fears over worsening insecurity.
No fewer than 130 persons were reportedly killed in violent attacks by gunmen across communities in Kwara, Katsina and Benue states in the past 48 hours, with Kwara State recording the highest casualties. In Woro community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara, residents said at least 100 people were killed when bandits struck on Tuesday, burning houses, shops and vehicles and forcing many residents to flee their homes. Locals said the assailants operated for several hours, while the search for missing persons continued on Wednesday.
Residents who spoke to Daily Trust said at least 75 bodies had already been buried, with more corpses still being discovered in surrounding bushes. Woro is located about 30 kilometres from Kaiama town and approximately 35 kilometres from Wawa in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, around the Kainji National Park axis, an area increasingly linked to armed group movements. The scale of destruction, residents said, has left the community largely deserted as survivors flee to neighbouring towns.
Confirming the incident, the community head, Alhaji Salihu Bio Umar, said his family was directly affected by the attack. “75 people have been identified and some got burnt completely beyond recognition including Muslims and Christians. Others are yet to be traced up till this moment. We estimated about a hundred people with some corpses still in the bush and my palace was burnt. However we have information that some bodies are still in the bush. One of the bandits’ landmines caught a commercial truck and got burnt beyond recognition. Two of my sons have been killed. They left with my Highlander Jeep. They also burnt all the shops in the community.” The Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Omar, also corroborated the casualty figures on Wednesday night.