In one of Nigeria's deadliest attacks in recent months, gunmen have killed at least 162 people in Kwara State, according to the Red Cross—a figure more than double the death toll earlier confirmed by the state governor.
The attack occurred Tuesday evening in Woro village in the Kaiama area. Kwara State Secretary of the Red Cross, Babaomo Ayodeji, updated the toll on Wednesday, stating, “Reports said that the death toll now stands at 162, as the search for more bodies continues.” This updates an earlier Red Cross count of 67.
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, had earlier confirmed 75 deaths, addressing residents at the palace of the Emir of Kaiama. He described the victims as “local Muslims massacred for refusing to surrender to extremists preaching a strange doctrine,” and blamed “terrorist cells.”
A local lawmaker, Sa’idu Baba Ahmed, initially told AFP that between “35 to 40 dead bodies were counted,” with many others escaping into the bush with gunshot wounds. He added that the gunmen invaded around 6:00 pm, setting shops and the king’s palace ablaze.
Governor AbdulRazaq revealed that President Bola Tinubu had approved the immediate deployment of an army battalion under "Operation Savannah Shield" to launch counter-offensives against the attackers. The attack follows recent military operations in the area against what it termed “terrorist elements.”
Parts of north-central Nigeria, like the northwest and northeast, are increasingly plagued by violence from armed gangs known as bandits, intercommunal clashes, and jihadist incursions. The massive discrepancy in casualty figures highlights the chaos of the attack and the challenges of accurate reporting in the immediate aftermath.
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