Following a deadly overnight attack by Boko Haram militants in Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate deployment of an army battalion to the affected villages of Worro and Nuku.
At least 75 people were killed, including women and children, as the militants targeted residents who resisted extremist indoctrination, leaving homes and properties destroyed.
President Tinubu condemned the assault as “cowardly and beastly”, describing the gunmen as “heartless” for deliberately targeting civilians. He expressed particular outrage that members of the Muslim community were killed after refusing to embrace violent extremist ideologies.
He has directed the military to lead Operation Savannah Shield to neutralise the terrorists and protect vulnerable communities, calling for close collaboration between federal and state agencies to deliver relief to affected residents and ensure the perpetrators face justice, while offering condolences to the bereaved families and the Kwara State government.
The attack reportedly involved elements linked to Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) and highlights the expanding reach of Boko Haram from Nigeria’s Northeast into the North-Central region.
Kwara has experienced increased banditry and terror-related incidents in recent months, heightening security concerns.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq confirmed the death toll, described the killings as a massacre, and pledged full support for military operations and relief efforts in the affected communities.
