At least 162 people have been killed after gunmen attacked Woro village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, making it one of the deadliest attacks in Nigeria in recent months, according to the Red Cross.
Babaomo Ayodeji, Kwara State Secretary of the Red Cross, said the search for more bodies was ongoing, revising an earlier toll of 67.
“Reports said that the death toll now stands at 162, as the search for more bodies continues,” Ayodeji said.
The attack occurred around 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday and was confirmed by both the police and the state government, although neither gave official casualty figures. Local lawmaker Sa’idu Baba Ahmed said initial counts found between 35 and 40 bodies.
Ahmed described how the attackers stormed the village in large numbers, opening fire on residents and setting shops and the palace of the traditional ruler ablaze. “Many others escaped into the bush with gunshots,” he said, adding that the ruler’s whereabouts were unknown.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq condemned the killings, describing them as “a cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells following the ongoing counter-terrorism campaigns in parts of the state.” The government attributed the attack to “terrorist cells” operating in the area.
Nigeria faces multiple security challenges. Armed gangs, often called bandits, raid villages and kidnap residents for ransom. Jihadist groups remain active in the North-East and North-West, while intercommunal violence continues in central states.
The Nigerian military has recently intensified operations in Kwara and nearby regions. On January 30, the army said it had launched “sustained coordinated offensive operations against terrorist elements,” claiming to have “neutralised” 150 bandits and destroyed their camps and logistics networks. “They successfully neutralised terrorists, while others managed to escape into the forest,” the military said.
Prior to the Woro attack, curfews had been imposed in some affected communities, and schools had been temporarily closed. Classes were only resumed on Monday, one day before the deadly raid.
The attack underscores the vulnerability of rural communities in Nigeria, despite ongoing military operations and government efforts to restore security.
The incident has also drawn international attention. Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump alleged that Christians were being targeted in a “genocide” in Nigeria. The Nigerian government and many independent observers rejected the claim, noting that insecurity in the country affects both Christians and Muslims indiscriminately.
TAT News had reported that the Trump administration has deployed personnel to Nigeria in response to the rising attacks, reflecting growing global concern over the country’s deteriorating security situation.
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