At least 162 people are feared dead following coordinated attacks on Woro and Nuku villages in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, in what residents and officials describe as one of the deadliest terrorist assaults recorded in Nigeria this year.
The casualty figure was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon by a lawmaker representing the area, Mohammed Omar Bio, who said the attacks occurred on Tuesday. He linked the violence to the Lakurawa, an armed group believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State, although no organisation has formally claimed responsibility.
Eyewitnesses said heavily armed men stormed the rural communities, forcing residents out of their homes before carrying out mass killings. Several houses and shops were also razed, leaving large parts of the villages destroyed. Many victims were buried in haste as survivors fled the area in fear of further attacks.
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Sa’idu Baba Ahmed, a political figure from Kaiama, disclosed that numerous residents escaped into nearby bush paths with gunshot injuries, while several others are still missing. Among those unaccounted for, he said, is a traditional ruler from one of the affected communities.
Survivors told reporters that the attackers had previously appeared in the villages under the guise of preaching, urging locals to reject the Nigerian state and embrace strict religious rule. Tensions reportedly escalated when residents resisted these demands, after which the assailants launched the deadly assault.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq strongly condemned the killings, describing them as a cowardly act by terrorist elements responding to intensified military pressure in the region. Kwara shares boundaries with Niger State, where armed groups have expanded their reach in recent years, exploiting remote terrain and weak security presence. The Nigerian military has confirmed that sustained counterterrorism operations are currently ongoing in the area.
The Kwara attack came amid continued bloodshed across northern Nigeria. In a separate incident on the same day, gunmen killed at least 13 people in Doma village, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, according to police sources, highlighting the growing security crisis confronting rural communities across the region.
As authorities move to stabilise affected areas, residents are calling for a stronger security presence, urgent humanitarian support, and decisive action to prevent further mass killings.
