Over 50 kill€d, houses b¥rnt as bandits launch fresh de∆dly att∆ck in Kwara 

Over 50 killed, houses burnt as bandits launch fresh deadly attack in Kwara

Over fifty people have been reportedly killed, and many houses were burnt as bandits launched a fresh, deadly attack on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

According to residents, the attack began around 6:00 on Tuesday, February 3, 2025, when about 200 gunmen reportedly stormed the village, firing shots indiscriminately.

An eyewitness, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the bandits killed more than 50 people during the attack and set several houses and shops on fire. He added that the palace of the Emir of Woro, Alhaji Saliu Bio Umar, was also affected.

According to him, the attack began around 6 p.m. and lasted until about 3 a.m. He said the death toll could be far higher, estimating that as many as 160 people may have been killed, describing the incident as one that nearly wiped out the entire community.

“I was in the village during the attack, but I fled early this morning,” he said.

Bandits attack Kwara community, kill over 50 residents, burn houses, including the Emir’s palace. pic.twitter.com/Rf933Xm8y8

— Temitope Hassan (@temihat) February 4, 2026
In a viral voice message in Ilorin, a man was heard confirming the attack on the people of Woro community and urging the security agencies to act swiftly to dislodge the rampaging bandits in the area.

He said, “Information reaching us is that Woro community, under Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, is under attack by the bandits right now. This is a clarion call on security agencies to please act with immediate effect.”

Meanwhile, a former member of the Kwara State House of Assembly from Woro community, Hon. Aliyu Mande, confirmed in a telephone conversation the invasion of his community by armed bandits.

He said, “It’s true that the bandits attacked our community (Woro) this evening around 5pm. As I speak with you, the bandits are still operating in the community. They told me that the bandits, who probably came from the National Park in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, killed up to 10 people and also burnt houses.”

“I have spoken with the chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area, who promised to rise to the occasion by informing the appropriate authorities,” Mande added.

Kwara government reacts

The Kwara state government, through a statement by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, confirmed the bandits’ attack.

CPS to the Kwara state governor said that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq mourned the victims of the Kaiama attack, saying that security forces had continued to improve on counterterrorism operations.

“Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is saddened by the cowardly attack on civilians in Woro and Nuku communities of Kaiama Local Government Area.

“The Governor condemns the attack, which he says is a cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells following the ongoing counterterrorism campaigns in parts of the state and the successes so far recorded.

“Governor AbdulRazaq says the attack was apparently to distract the security forces who have successfully hunted down several terrorist and kidnapping gangs across many parts of the state.

“The Governor expresses heartfelt condolences to Woro and Nuku communities on the sad incident, especially the families affected in the Tuesday attack”, he said.

Soldiers, Forest Guard take over affected communities

Following the bandits’ attack, Soldiers and Forest Guards have reportedly taken over the communities.

A source in the local government who spoke with journalists on condition of anonymity confirmed the development in an interview on Wednesday morning.

“The casualties are over Forty as we speak, and soldiers and Forest Guards have taken over the two communities. It’s such a very sad development at a time we think we are having peace from the bandits’ attacks of the past,” she said.

States in the north-central like Kwara, Niger, and others have repeatedly come under bandit attacks.

In November, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, ordering that these personnel be redeployed to core policing duties.

The decision was announced after President Tinubu declared a state of emergency on security and met with the police, Air Force, and army chiefs, as well as the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS).