Residents of Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State went to bed last Tuesday expecting another quiet night.
However, by dawn, the village had become a place of mass graves, smoke, and unbearable silence.
By early Wednesday, reports indicated that the Woro community attack in Kwara State had left at least 162 people dead.
Many residents were still missing, while dozens, mostly women and children, were abducted. Moreover, entire families were wiped out as homes and shops were set on fire during the invasion.
At sunset on Tuesday, Woro still followed its normal rhythm. Farmers returned from their fields, shop owners chatted freely, and families prepared meals.
However, everything changed within hours. Armed jihadists stormed the village and began killing residents indiscriminately. By morning, ashes replaced homes, and fear replaced hope.
Forty-eight hours later, the community remained deserted. Many residents who escaped into nearby bushes had not returned. Meanwhile, soldiers and forest guards were deployed, taking control of the area. Burnt houses stood as reminders of lives destroyed without warning.
A resident, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on condition of anonymity, revealed that the attackers were not strangers.
According to the source, the bandits had visited Woro previously, claiming they came to preach and persuade residents to abandon the Nigerian Constitution for their ideology.
It was gathered that early last month, the group wrote a letter to the village head, Alhaji Umar Saliu Tanko, requesting a gathering for preaching. However, the village head reportedly alerted security agencies due to concerns from earlier sermons.
A local government staff member explained, “On the appointed day, soldiers and other security agents had assembled at the venue with the intention of arresting the bandits.” However, the attackers fled after spotting security forces. According to reports, this retreat led them to plan a violent revenge.
After the aborted meeting, the bandits allegedly sent a voice note threatening the village. Although the warning was reported, no preventive action followed. Therefore, the attack came suddenly on Tuesday evening around 5 p.m.
Another local said, “The bandits know the terrain, so from one street to another they went killing the people.” She added that although officials confirmed 75 bodies, many victims were burnt beyond recognition or killed in nearby bushes. “We are still recovering more corpses,” she said.
Furthermore, the attackers reportedly returned the next morning, ambushing worshippers heading to early prayers. Grave diggers worked through tears, burying loved ones in mass graves.
Kaiama Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Abubabar Abdullahi Danladi, described the scene as horrific. He said, “It’s disheartening, what we saw was like a horror film.” He added that informants helped the attackers locate key targets.
The Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Omar Muazu, also lamented the tragedy, calling it “one of the largest massacres in Nigeria at this time.” He urged the government to establish a permanent military base around Woro to prevent future attacks.
Meanwhile, the Arewa Discussion Group condemned the rising violence across northern Nigeria.
