In a horrific attack in Nigeria’s Kwara state, jihadist militants slaughtered over 160 people and abducted dozens more after the predominantly Muslim communities refused to convert to their extremist interpretation of Islam. The assault, which began on Tuesday evening and lasted through the night, has exposed severe security lapses and intensified fears of expanding militant violence in west-central Nigeria.
The violence unfolded in the neighboring villages of Woro and Nuku, where more than 100 armed militants, dressed in army fatigues and arriving on motorcycles, launched a coordinated raid just before sunset. According to survivors interviewed by the BBC and AP, the attackers first targeted the home of traditional leader Umar Bio Salihu, burning it down and killing two of his children, medical students, in retaliation for the community’s rejection of their preaching requests.
Over the ensuing hours, the jihadists went on a killing spree, methodically targeting residents who had returned from their fields. Amnesty International reported that many victims were found with hands and feet tied, some with slit throats or gunshot wounds. Local official Mohammed Dauda described the scene as “devastating,” with at least 75 confirmed dead initially, though other sources like AP cite figures as high as 162 killed.
In addition to the slaughter, the militants abducted 38 women and children, including Salihu’s wife and remaining family members. They also destroyed shops and homes, leaving the villages in ruins. The attackers’ motive was clear: they demanded that residents renounce the Nigerian government and constitution, imposing a parallel system based on their extremist teachings, which local leaders said contradicted Islamic principles.
The attack is attributed to a faction of Boko Haram, specifically the Mahmuda group, which has been active in rural parts of Kwara and neighboring Niger state. For months, the communities had received leaflets and warnings from the militants, escalating to a final letter to Salihu asking permission to preach. Despite alerting security forces, no preventive action was taken, leading Amnesty International to condemn a “stunning security failure.”
Security forces arrived only the next day, finding mass destruction and beginning the grim task of burying the dead in mass graves. Residents, assisted by soldiers, worked tirelessly to recover bodies from the bushes, with Dauda personally helping bury 30 corpses. The psychological and physical toll on the survivors is immense, with many left traumatized and the villages now deserted.
In response, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu approved the immediate deployment of an army battalion to the area, as announced by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. However, this reactive measure has sparked criticism over the government’s inability to protect vulnerable communities from such well-planned attacks, especially given prior intelligence.
The incident underscores the broader insecurity in Nigeria, where jihadist groups, bandits, and other armed factions operate with impunity in various regions. Communities in Kwara have formed vigilante groups for self-defense, but in this case, the militants specifically targeted and killed these local defenders, indicating insider knowledge or detailed reconnaissance.
Moving forward, the attack raises urgent questions about Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategies and the need for improved intelligence and rapid response mechanisms. As survivors mourn their losses and grapple with abduction fears, the international community watches closely, with implications for regional stability and the ongoing fight against extremism in West Africa.
