Grief and shock have gripped Woro village in Kaiama LGA of Kwara State after a brutal armed attack left at least 162 people dead, according to the Red Cross and local authorities. Residents described a night of horror as gunmen stormed the community, set homes ablaze, and killed scores of villagers in what is now considered the deadliest assault in the state this year.
The Kwara Red Cross Secretary, Babaomo Ayodeji, confirmed the rising death toll, while a local politician told Reuters the figure could be closer to 170. Community sources alleged the attackers had previously preached extremist messages in the area and turned violent after residents resisted their demands.
At least 75 victims were laid to rest in a mass burial on Wednesday, as families searched for missing loved ones. Survivors recounted fleeing into nearby bushes with injuries, while others climbed trees to escape. Among those killed was a nursing student, Salihu Bio Khalid, and his brother, a loss that has deeply shaken the local academic community.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq condemned the attack as cowardly, while President Bola Tinubu reportedly ordered the immediate deployment of troops to the area. Lawmakers and political leaders across the state called for intensified military action and humanitarian support for displaced residents.
In a related development, tragedy also struck Abande market in Kwande LGA of Benue State, where at least 17 people, including a Mobile Police officer, were killed during an attack by suspected armed herdsmen. Witnesses said the assailants opened fire on traders, looted shops, and set parts of the market ablaze during peak trading hours.
While community leaders put the death toll at 17, the Benue State Police confirmed fewer casualties but acknowledged the loss of an officer. Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the attack and ordered security reinforcements, as residents lamented worsening insecurity and the displacement of families from their homes.
Across both states, political parties, lawmakers, and civil society voices have called for urgent action, warning that repeated attacks on rural communities and markets are eroding public confidence in security efforts and leaving many Nigerians living in fear.
