Kwara State, Nigeria — Dozens of people have been killed in a ferocious shooting attack on two villages in Nigeria’s western Kwara State, after residents reportedly refused to “surrender to extremists preaching a strange doctrine,” according to state authorities.
Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said at least 75 local Muslims were massacred during Tuesday’s raid on the villages of Woro and Nuku. However, a state lawmaker and humanitarian agencies warn the death toll is far higher, with estimates now exceeding 170 fatalities as search and recovery operations continue.
A member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Saidu Baba Ahmed, told the Prime Africa that 78 bodies had already been buried, adding that more corpses were still being recovered from surrounding bushes and farmlands.
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has blamed the attack on Boko Haram militants and ordered the immediate deployment of an army battalion to the affected communities.
Villages Overrun for Hours
According to residents, the attackers stormed the villages shortly after 5:00pm local time, riding in on motorcycles and firing indiscriminately for nearly four hours.
“They burned homes and shops, killed people at close range and abducted dozens,” said local resident Abdulla Umar Usman, who confirmed that two sons of a traditional ruler were killed, while other members of the leader’s family were kidnapped.
State officials reported that at least 38 people were abducted, while hundreds of villagers fled into nearby forests to escape the violence.
Attack Linked to Rejection of Extremist Ideology
Ahmed said Boko Haram activity has been steadily increasing in the area, with the latest attack allegedly triggered by the community’s rejection of a strict interpretation of Islam.
He revealed that the militants had previously written to the villagers, informing them of their intention to “preach,” but residents resisted and mobilised local vigilante groups and security forces.
Rising Death Toll and Condemnation
The International Committee of the Red Cross in Kwara State said reports indicate the death toll has reached 162, while Amnesty International placed the figure at over 170, noting that many victims were shot at close range and others burnt alive.
Amnesty condemned what it described as a “stunning absence of security protection” and called for an urgent investigation into the massacre.
Part of a Wider Wave of Violence
The Kwara killings are part of a surge in deadly attacks across Nigeria in recent days. On the same day:
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21 people were killed in Doma village, Katsina State
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17 others died in separate attacks in Borno State, the heartland of Boko Haram’s insurgency
Governor AbdulRazaq said the Kwara attack may have been carried out to divert security forces, following recent counter-terrorism operations that dismantled several kidnapping and terrorist gangs in the region.
US–Nigeria Security Cooperation Expands
The attacks come as Nigeria officially acknowledged the presence of US troops in the country for the first time, following an order by former US President Donald Trump for military action against Islamist militant groups.
Nigeria’s Defence Minister Christopher Musa confirmed the deployment but did not disclose details. US Africa Command (AFRICOM) later said the mission was deployed at Nigeria’s request and focused on intelligence support.
The US military has recently intensified its involvement, including airstrikes on Christmas Day targeting camps operated by the militant group Lakurawa in north-western Nigeria.
A Nation Under Pressure
Nigeria continues to grapple with multiple security crises, including Islamist insurgency, armed banditry, kidnappings, farmer–herder clashes and separatist unrest.
Despite increased military operations, including the reported killing of a senior Boko Haram commander in Borno State last weekend, civilians remain highly vulnerable — particularly in remote and underserved communities.
As mass burials continue in Kwara, pressure is mounting on the federal government to restore security, protect civilians and bring perpetrators to justice.
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