Kwara Under Siege: Terrorists Slaughter Dozens, Burn Villages as Military Launches Counter-Offensive

 

Panic and grief have gripped Kwara State following a brutal terrorist invasion of Nuku and Woro communities in Kaiama Local Government Area, where no fewer than 75 residents were reportedly killed and scores of homes reduced to ashes in a coordinated attack.

The deadly onslaught, said to have started at about 6pm on Tuesday, left the rural settlements in ruins as heavily armed assailants stormed the areas, shooting indiscriminately and setting buildings ablaze. Survivors reportedly fled into surrounding bushes and neighbouring settlements to escape the carnage.

Confirming the incident, spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said security personnel have been drafted to the affected communities, while search and rescue efforts continue. She added that casualty figures are still being reconciled and investigations are ongoing to determine the number of missing persons.

However, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Rafiu Ajakaye, put the death toll at 75, describing the killings as targeted and ideological. According to him, many of the victims were moderate Muslims allegedly murdered for refusing to embrace extremist teachings imposed by the attackers.

In swift response, Governor AbdulRazaq visited Kaiama on Wednesday night alongside senior security commanders and cabinet officials to assess the destruction and commiserate with grieving residents. He was received by the Emir of Kaiama, Muazu Omar.

During the visit, the governor announced that President Bola Tinubu had approved the immediate deployment of an army battalion to the troubled axis to spearhead counter-insurgency operations under a special mission tagged Operation Savannah Shield.

The governor condemned the attack as a barbaric assault on innocent citizens and warned that the state would not bow to terror. He suggested the strike may be a calculated move by armed groups seeking to divert attention from ongoing security crackdowns in other locations.

The incident underscores growing fears over the spread of terrorist and bandit activities into parts of the North-Central, with Kwara and neighbouring states witnessing increasing security breaches in recent months.

The attack also comes at a time of heightened international security collaboration, following confirmation by the United States Africa Command, AFRICOM, that a small team of US troops has been deployed to Nigeria in support roles.

Security agencies say coordinated ground operations are underway to track the perpetrators and prevent further attacks.