10 things you need to know about Kwara community terror attack
Further details have emerged on the deadly attack which occurred at Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday.
Over 100 were reportedly killed by the assailants who struck the community without any resistance from security agents.
Speaking to Arise TV on Thursday morning in an interview, the Village Head of Woro, Alhaji Umar Bio Salihu, said the attack began around 5pm on Tuesday through the midnight.
The community witnessed wanton killings, destruction of houses and abduction of a yet-to-be-ascertained number of people by the terrorists.
A faction of Boko Haram terrorists are believed to have carried out the attack. However, the attack is yet to be claimed by any terror group.
Below are some of the key highlights of the incident
Deadliest and heaviest
The attack has been regarded as one of the deadliest and heaviest recorded in the wake of the insecurity that has ravaged the northern and southern parts of Kwara State. Informant247 gathered that at least 170 persons were killed in the attack. On Wednesday, 75 persons were buried while victims are still being recovered.
“They burnt half of the village, including my house — there are some corpses still lying down because we can’t bury all of them yesterday (Wednesday) as people are very tired and we left some corpses till this morning.”
Boko Haram signature
Several reports indicate that the attack was carried out by a faction of Boko Haram terror group who migrated to the Kainji forest reserve which belts Niger and Kwara States. The group have reportedly launched a series of attacks in both states before the Tuesday attack. Prominent among their onslaught was the attack on Kasuwan Daji in neighbouring Niger State, killing more than 30 people and abducting women and children.
According to Premium Times Newspaper, the Boko Haram fighters are operating under the command of their leader called Mallam Sadiku who led their migration into Kwara State last July.
Security agents showed up 10 hours after alert by villagers
The Village Head recounted that the attack began at 5pm on Tuesday but the security agents arrived at the scene of the attack some 10 hours after they were alerted.
“The incident happened after 5pm and we immediately alerted the security agents and before they came it was 3am around the midnight — the terrorists had left before the military came.”
The Village Head further noted that although they saw a plane that took off from New Bussa moving over the community, it could not be ascertained whether it launched an aerial attack on the terrorists or not.
The letter before the attack
Village Head of Woro, Alhaji Umar Bio Salihu, confirmed to Arise TV that the terrorists sent a letter to the community in the past month.
He said, “About a month ago, they brought a letter that they served my own community and Nuku, a community which is very close to me, that they are coming down to preach — immediately I received the letter and I sent it through WhatsApp to the DSS officer in Kaiama and the following day I sent it to the Kaiama Emirate.”
The Village Head further said that he believed that “necessary information might have gone to the necessary quarters” as they would later see military presence in their community.
He noted that 15 soldiers were mobilised to the community upon receiving the letter and their presence drifted the terrorists away for the period during which the military formation was on ground.
“They (Boko Haram) wanted to come but the military went there to patrol—initially, we had a military base there with about 15 soldiers but about five or three months ago, the Boko Haram attacked the military — since then they evacuated them and we don’t have a security presence in our area and axis again. I think that gave them the right to come there anytime and do whatever they like.”
He added that the presence of the military coupled with the fact that the community people seemed not ready to accept the doctrine they are preaching irked the terrorists to launch the attack.
Governor Abdulrahman visits attacked community
Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on Wednesday visited Kaiama LG to commiserate with the people over the deadly attack.
The Governor, alongside his entourage, journeyed overnight to visit Kaiama main town and Woro community.
“The Governor came to Kaiama yesterday and went there 12pm and we came back 3pm before he went back to Ilorin — he went there and saw things himself,” said the Village Head.
President Tinubu deploys troop
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, following the attack, approved the immediate deployment of an army battalion to prosecute counter-offensive operations codenamed Operation Savannah Shield.
Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq made the announcement on Wednesday during his visit to Kaiama.
Speaking to Arise TV on Thursday, the Village Head stated that the community has witnessed an influx of security agents, especially soldiers, including 35 soldiers from Kainji Barrack, 15 from Saki and some forest guards. He rounded up the number of security agents present to 80.
Muslims are the most affected — Village Head
Village Head of Woro community, Alhaji Umar Bio Salihu, told Arise TV that Muslim faithful are the most affected during the attack.
He said, “The people they (terrorists) killed are almost Muslim — 95% of them are Muslim while 5% are Christian.”
The proportionate number of the Muslim faithful killed in the attack is said to have negated the US President Donald Trump’s claim that there’s Christian genocide in Nigeria. The Federal Government has denied his framing of Nigeria’s insecurity challenges, stating that all people of faiths are being affected.
Explosion after attack
The Village Head of Woro also revealed that the terrorists planted explosives in the pathway back into their fold.
He said, “What they (terrorists) do is that they plant bombs on their way when going back so that if the military are coming, the bomb will affect them. God willing, one trailer came before the military and the bomb exploded and bombed the whole trailer.”
Kwara State Governor meets President Tinubu
Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on Thursday evening met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Aso Villa in Abuja following the deadly attack. Both leaders are expected to discuss the attack as federal and state governments collaborate in the fight against insecurity.
Kwara and its growing instability
Kwara State, originally known to be “a state of harmony,” is facing multiple security challenges with its northern and southern regions being the most affected. Since 2025, the state has been ravaged by banditry, kidnapping and several forms of security breaches.
