Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, to commiserate with the government and people of the state over the deadly attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area.
The Vice President’s aircraft touched down at the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport at about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
He was accompanied by the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum; Senator Ali Ndume; and former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
At the airport, Vice President Shettima was received by the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Salihu; and the Senator representing Kwara North Senatorial District, Sadiq Umar.
Also present to receive the Vice President were the member representing Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mukhtar Sagaya; security commanders; members of the state executive and legislative councils; local government chairmen; as well as the Kwara State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Sunday Fagbemi, and other party executives.
The condolence visit comes four days after gunmen attacked Woro community, killing about 160 people, setting shops ablaze, and burning the residence of the community’s traditional ruler.
During the late Tuesday attack, scores of residents were wounded, while others fled into nearby bushes to escape the onslaught. Several villagers were also abducted, reportedly transported in two vehicles belonging to the village head.
The attack was allegedly triggered by the community’s refusal to submit to indoctrination by an extremist group known as Mahmuda, which reportedly led the assailants to open fire indiscriminately on residents.
The incident occurred shortly after the military conducted security operations in parts of Kwara State targeting what it described as “terrorist elements.” In a statement issued on January 30, the military said it had launched sustained, coordinated offensive operations against terrorist groups in the state.
According to the military, troops stormed remote and previously inaccessible camps, destroying abandoned hideouts and logistics facilities, thereby significantly degrading the operational capacity of the terrorists.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the Kwara State Government imposed curfews in affected areas and temporarily shut down schools for several weeks. Schools were ordered to reopen on Monday.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who has already visited the affected community, described the attack as genocidal and vowed that the perpetrators and criminal elements operating along the Kwara–Niger State borders would be flushed out within one month.
