By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
WHAT began as a period of relative calm in parts of Kwara State has been violently shattered, as fresh bandit attacks on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area left no fewer than 40 people dead, forcing a renewed military takeover of the troubled axis.
On Tuesday evening, residents of the agrarian communities were thrown into mourning after armed bandits launched a deadly onslaught, killing scores of civilians and setting several houses ablaze. By Wednesday morning, soldiers and Forest Guards had fully taken over the affected communities in a bid to restore order and prevent further attacks.
A credible source within the local government, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, confirmed the grim toll.
“The casualties are over 40 as we speak, and soldiers and Forest Guards have taken over the two communities. It is such a sad development at a time we thought peace was returning after previous bandit attacks,” the source said.
Disturbing details emerging from the attacks suggest that the violence was triggered during what witnesses described as a “sermon” by the assailants.
According to multiple local accounts, the bandits, believed to have infiltrated the area from neighbouring villages in Niger State, had been moving from settlement to settlement preaching that residents should abandon the Nigerian Constitution and embrace the Qur’an.
Sources said the same message had been circulated in some border communities in Niger State before the gunmen crossed into Kwara.
During the gathering in Woro and Nuku, dissenting voices reportedly challenged the message, infuriating the armed men.
“The angry bandits opened fire indiscriminately on the congregation,” a local source said. “No fewer than 40 residents of the two communities were killed, while a few managed to escape. As we speak, preparations for mass burials are ongoing.”
Families were left devastated, with entire households reportedly wiped out and survivors fleeing into nearby bushes for safety.
In response to the renewed violence, security forces intensified counterterrorism operations across the area. According to official accounts, troops stormed remote forest camps previously inaccessible to security operatives, destroying abandoned hideouts and logistics hubs used by the bandits.
The operation, security sources said, significantly degraded the terrorists’ ability to sustain further attacks.
“Troops also stormed remote camps hitherto inaccessible to security forces, where several abandoned camps and logistics enablers were destroyed, significantly degrading the terrorists’ sustainment capability,” a security statement noted.
Prior to the latest attacks, authorities in Kwara State had imposed curfews in flashpoint areas and shut schools for several weeks due to rising insecurity. Schools were only ordered to reopen on Monday, barely 24 hours before the deadly assault.
The Kwara State Government has confirmed the incident, with Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq expressing deep sorrow over the killings.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor described the attack as a “cowardly expression of frustration” by terrorist elements facing sustained pressure from security forces.
“The Governor condemns the attack, which he says is a cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells following the ongoing counterterrorism campaigns in parts of the state and the successes so far recorded,” the statement said.
Governor Abdulrazaq added that the attack appeared designed to distract security agencies that had successfully dismantled several terrorist and kidnapping gangs across the state.
He extended heartfelt condolences to the people of Woro and Nuku, particularly families who lost loved ones in the violence.
National and International Spotlight
The fresh killings come at a time Nigeria’s security situation is under intense international scrutiny, following claims by former US President Donald Trump alleging a genocide of Christians in the country.
The Federal Government has firmly rejected the allegation, insisting that insecurity affects Nigerians across religious lines, with both Christians and Muslims falling victim to banditry and terrorism.
For residents of Woro and Nuku, however, global debates offer little comfort. As mass burials loom and soldiers patrol deserted streets, communities are left grappling with loss, fear and unanswered questions about how long peace can truly last.
What is clear is that Kaiama has once again become a grim reminder of Nigeria’s fragile security landscape—and the heavy human cost borne by rural communities caught in the crossfire.
