In a devastating escalation of violence in Nigeria's north-central region, the death toll from terrorist attacks on two rural communities in Kwara State has risen to 200, according to local reports.
Gunmen, described as terrorists, struck the villages of Woro and Nuku in Kaiama Local Government Area on Tuesday night. The assailants invaded the communities, indiscriminately opening fire on residents and setting homes ablaze, in what survivors and officials have called a brutal and prolonged assault.
Initial reports indicated dozens killed, but the figure rose rapidly as search efforts continued—reaching over 160 by mid-week according to aid organizations like the Red Cross, and hitting 200 by Thursday night per some accounts.
Many bodies were still being recovered, with some residents fleeing into surrounding bushes during the chaos. The attacks left homes destroyed, shops looted, and families devastated.The incident occurred amid ongoing military operations targeting terrorist elements in the area, which officials say may have provoked the violence as a retaliatory act.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described the killings as a "cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells" in response to counter-terrorism efforts. President Bola Tinubu condemned the "beastly attack" and ordered the immediate deployment of an army battalion to secure the region, while directing federal and state agencies to provide humanitarian aid and pursue justice against the perpetrators.
The United States has strongly condemned the violence. In a statement posted by the US Mission in Nigeria, officials expressed deep condolences to the affected families, calling the incident "senseless violence."
The statement noted that the attacks claimed more than 160 lives, with the toll still unconfirmed and many people unaccounted for. The US welcomed President Tinubu’s swift directives to deploy security forces, deliver aid, and hold the attackers accountable.
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