Armed bandits on Tuesday evening launched a deadly assault on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, leaving at least 10 residents dead and dozens displaced.
The attack, which happened around 6:00 p.m. on February 3, 2026, has renewed fears over rural security despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts in the state.
According to local sources, the gunmen, said to be about 200 in number, arrived suddenly and began shooting sporadically. As a result, panic spread quickly across the two communities, forcing residents to flee their homes in different directions. Several houses were set on fire during the raid, while families were torn apart in the confusion.
A community leader confirmed that many victims were killed while trying to escape, while others were caught inside their homes.
He explained that the attackers were suspected to be bandits hiding in the forest around the National Park in Borgu, Niger State.
Another resident of Kaiama, Idris Mohammed, said that about six corpses were later taken to the palace of the Emir of Woro, Alhaji Saliu Bio Umar. He added that many villagers were still missing as of Wednesday morning, therefore raising concerns that the death toll could rise.
However, the Kwara State Government has confirmed the incident. In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq expressed deep sorrow over the attack.
The statement read: “Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is saddened by the cowardly attack on civilians in Woro and Nuku communities of Kaiama Local Government Area.”
Moreover, the governor described the assault as a desperate act by terrorist cells reacting to recent security successes. He noted that the attack was “a cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells following the ongoing counterterrorism campaigns in parts of the state.”
In addition, the governor extended condolences to the affected families and assured residents that security operations would be intensified. He explained that the attack was likely meant to distract security forces who have “successfully hunted down several terrorist and kidnapping gangs” across the state.
Meanwhile, Halidu Danbaba, the lawmaker representing Kaiama at the Kwara State House of Assembly, also confirmed the incident.
He appealed to both state and federal authorities to extend recent military operations in Kwara South to Kaiama, especially with schools resuming in the area.
