The head of Woro village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, Umar Salihu, has alleged that terrorists attacked his community for nearly 10 hours before security forces arrived, leaving scores of residents dead and large parts of the village destroyed.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, Salihu said the attack began around 5:00 p.m., with distress calls made to security agencies shortly afterward. However, according to him, soldiers did not arrive until about 3:00 a.m. the following morning.
“I called about 5 p.m., but they did not come until about 3 a.m. That is about 10 hours,” he said.
Salihu stated that by the time the military arrived, the attackers had already fled, and no engagement took place. He added that there was no air interdiction during the assault.
“The military did not attack them. The bandits had gone when the military came. There was no air interdiction; no munition was dropped,” he said.
Security Vacuum and Intelligence Concerns
The village head attributed the attack to the absence of security personnel in the area, explaining that soldiers previously stationed in Woro were withdrawn months earlier after an attack on the military base.
“We had about 15 soldiers here, but after they were attacked three to five months ago, they were evacuated. Since then, we have had no security presence,” he said, adding that the withdrawal left the community vulnerable.
Salihu also raised concerns that sensitive intelligence may have been compromised. He disclosed that he had earlier reported a threat letter to security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Emirate Council.
“When the letter was brought to me, I immediately sent it to the DSS in Kaiama and later took it to the Emirate Council. Somewhere in that process, I think the appropriate contact was lost,” he said, suggesting that subsequent patrols may have alerted the attackers.
Death Toll and Destruction
According to Salihu, no fewer than 75 people had been buried as of the time of the interview, with more bodies still being recovered from surrounding bushes. He said nearly half of the village was razed, including his personal residence.
“The people they killed are mostly Muslims — about 95 per cent Muslims and five per cent Christians,” he added, dismissing claims that the attack was religiously motivated.
He identified the attackers as members of the Mamuda terrorist group, saying the violence followed the community’s refusal to accept the group’s ideology and indoctrination attempts.
Military, Police, and Political Reactions
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), while expressing shock over the killings, said troops were promptly deployed upon receipt of intelligence and had earlier conducted patrols and surveillance in the area. A military source noted that difficult terrain, night movement, and the presence of improvised explosive devices slowed troop movement.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the deployment of tactical and intelligence assets to Kaiama and surrounding communities, while launching a manhunt for the perpetrators.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited the affected communities and ordered immediate security reinforcement. Salihu confirmed that about 80 security personnel have since been deployed.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the Federal Government of ignoring early security warnings, describing the incident as a reflection of worsening insecurity. Several political leaders, including Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and former Senate President Ahmad Lawan, condemned the killings and called for decisive action.
President Bola Tinubu also condemned the attack, vowing that Nigeria would not surrender to extremism and terrorism disguised as faith, and assured that those responsible would be brought to justice.
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