Gunmen have reportedly killed at least 162 people in Kwara State, marking one of the deadliest attacks recorded in Nigeria in recent months, according to a state official of the Red Cross.
The attack occurred late Tuesday in Kaiama Local Government Area, shortly after the military carried out operations in the region against what it described as terrorist elements.
Earlier, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had confirmed 75 deaths while speaking to residents at the Emir of Kaiama’s palace. He said the victims were local Muslims who were allegedly killed for refusing to submit to extremists preaching what he called a strange doctrine.
The governor also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had approved the immediate deployment of an army battalion under Operation Savannah Shield to launch counter-offensives against the attackers.
However, the Kwara State secretary of the Red Cross, Babaomo Ayodeji, later updated the casualty figure, stating that the death toll had climbed to 162 as search efforts continued for more bodies.
Before the Red Cross update, a lawmaker representing the Kaiama area, Sa’idu Baba Ahmed, had told AFP that between 35 and 40 bodies were initially counted after the attack.
Ahmed said the assailants stormed Woro village around 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, set shops on fire, and allegedly razed the palace of the traditional ruler. He added that many residents fled into the bush, some with gunshot injuries, and warned that the death toll could rise further as more victims may still be unaccounted for.
Police authorities confirmed the attack but did not release any official casualty figure. The Kwara State government also blamed the incident on terrorist cells.
Meanwhile, the Red Cross official identified the missing traditional ruler as Alhaji Salihu Umar, noting that his whereabouts remained unknown as of Wednesday.
Governor AbdulRazaq condemned the assault, describing it as a desperate act carried out by terrorists frustrated by recent counterterrorism successes recorded by security forces in parts of the state.
In recent weeks, the Nigerian military has intensified operations against jihadist groups and armed bandits across several regions. Last month, the army announced it had launched sustained offensive operations in Kwara State, claiming it destroyed terrorist hideouts and disrupted their supply networks. Local reports also claimed that over 150 bandits were killed during the operations.
Security analysts have noted that jihadist activity in Kwara has grown, especially after the al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) claimed responsibility for its first attack in Nigeria in the state last year.
A researcher, Brant Philip, observed that the latest assault occurred close to the area attacked by JNIM in October, suggesting an overlap between jihadist and Boko Haram activity zones, with indications that the groups may be operating in loose cooperation.
In response to growing insecurity, Kwara State authorities previously imposed curfews in some areas and temporarily shut schools, though schools were ordered to reopen on Monday.
The situation has also drawn international attention, especially following claims by US President Donald Trump alleging a genocide against Christians in Nigeria. The Nigerian government and several independent observers have rejected the claim, insisting that both Christians and Muslims are victims of the country’s worsening insecurity.
