The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate deployment of tactical, operational and intelligence assets to Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State following a deadly attack that claimed at least 75 lives.
The Nigeria Police Force, in a statement signed on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, condemned the attack, which occurred on Tuesday, describing it as tragic and deeply disturbing. The statement said the IGP extended his heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families, as well as to the government and people of Kwara State, while reaffirming the Force’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
According to the police, the deployment aims to restore calm, strengthen security presence and prevent further violence in Kaiama and surrounding communities. The Force also confirmed that it has launched an intensive manhunt for the perpetrators and their accomplices, stressing that investigations are ongoing and that officers have mobilised all available resources to ensure those responsible face justice.
The police assured Nigerians that the attackers would not evade the law and urged members of the public to remain calm and support security agencies by providing credible information to the nearest police stations.
Reports from the affected areas indicated that gunmen attacked Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities late on Tuesday, killing scores of people, burning shops and the residence of a traditional ruler, and forcing many residents to flee into nearby bushes.
Reacting to the killings, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Kabiru Tanimu condemned the attack, describing it as a stark reflection of Nigeria’s worsening security situation. The Northern States Governors’ Forum also denounced the violence in parts of Kwara, Katsina and Benue states, calling the killings barbaric, senseless and an assault on the nation’s collective conscience.
In response, President Bola Tinubu ordered the deployment of an army battalion to Kwara State to reinforce security. His spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the move aimed to checkmate the terrorists and protect vulnerable communities. He added that the new military formation would lead Operation Savannah Shield, noting that the President condemned the attackers for targeting defenceless civilians.
Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, who visited the affected communities and the palace of the Emir of Kaiama, Muazu Omar, described the incident as a “pure massacre.” He confirmed that authorities had already buried at least 75 victims and said the attackers targeted residents for resisting what he described as a perverted terrorist ideology.