KAIAMA — A heavy military presence has been established in the Woro and Nuku communities of Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State, following a devastating assault by bandits on Tuesday evening that has now left at least 40 people dead.
Joint teams of Soldiers and Forest Guards took control of the affected areas on Wednesday morning to prevent further carnage and track the assailants, who are believed to have retreated into the dense forest reserves bordering the state.
Rising Toll and Community Displacement
What was initially reported as a localized skirmish escalated into a full-scale massacre as more bodies were recovered from farmlands and outskirts of the villages.
- Casualty Update:Â Local sources confirmed the death toll jumped to 40 as search parties combed the bushes. Many victims, including women and elderly residents, were reportedly shot while attempting to flee.
- Mass Displacement:Â Hundreds of survivors from Woro and Nuku have fled to the Kaiama township, with many describing the attackers as “heavily armed men” who arrived on motorcycles and began shooting indiscriminately.
Security Response and “Forest Takeover”
The deployment of Forest Guards alongside the military marks a strategic shift in Kwara’s security response.
- Strategic Buffer: Kaiama, which shares borders with the Kainji Lake National Park and parts of Niger State, has become a flashpoint for bandits escaping military pressure in the Northwest.
- Direct Command:Â The Kwara State Government has reportedly ordered the security forces to “clear out” all unauthorized settlements within the forest reserves, which are frequently used as launchpads for such attacks.
National Security Concerns
The Kwara massacre adds to a bloody 24-hour window in Northern Nigeria, following the killing of 24 residents in Doma, Katsina State, by suspected Fulani bandits.
The escalating violence continues to overshadow political developments, including the remand of former AGF Abubakar Malami on terrorism financing charges. Critics, including Pastor Folu Adeboye (wife of Enoch Adeboye), have intensified their calls for the government to prioritize peace over 2027 politics, citing the “too much suffering” and bloodletting across the federation.
Government Silence
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the deployment of reinforcements but has yet to release an official statement regarding the finalized casualty figures.
