The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed that at least 75 people were killed in a recent attack on communities in Kaiama Local Government Area.
Police Public Relations Officer Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi disclosed this on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme.
“The present toll of casualties from the dastardly act that occurred on February 3 at about 17:30 hours is 75. Investigations are ongoing, and we will continue to update the public as necessary,” she said.
According to Ejire-Adeyemi, the Kwara State Police Command was immediately informed following the incident, prompting the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, to deploy personnel to the affected communities.
She noted that the location posed logistical challenges, as the area is about two hours from the divisional headquarters in Kaiama.
“When this incident happened, police personnel, alongside the military and the National Forest Guard, moved in almost immediately after the attack,” she said.
Investigation underway
Responding to reports that the attackers may have been in the community for some time before the assault, Ejire-Adeyemi said investigations were ongoing.
“The police are still investigating information that the perpetrators had probably stayed in the town before carrying out this act. It is truly unfortunate, and we are working tirelessly to prevent such incidents in the future,” she added.
She also highlighted that recent clearance operations in Kwara and neighbouring Kogi State had disrupted the activities of armed groups in the region.
“In the last month, clearance operations in Kwara and Kogi States have disorganised these bandits. We had been experiencing relative peace in Kwara South until this incident occurred in Kwara North,” she said.
Ejire-Adeyemi further disclosed that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had ordered reinforcement of security in the area.
“The Inspector-General has ensured adequate security is beefed up. As of now, it is relatively peaceful, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators. We are committed to preventing a recurrence,” she said.
Police overwhelmed
When asked about police presence in Woro village at the time of the attack, Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed that a team was stationed there, though not in heavy numbers.
“Most importantly, the National Forest Guard and local vigilantes were present. Because of the distance to the divisional headquarters, reinforcements took time to arrive. At that moment, officers were likely overwhelmed,” she said, acknowledging that a stronger security presence might have helped repel the attackers.
National response
The Inspector-General of Police has ordered the immediate deployment of tactical, operational, and intelligence units to Kaiama LGA. The Nigerian Police Force condemned the attack as tragic and confirmed that a manhunt is underway to apprehend the perpetrators.
Gunmen attacked Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities on Tuesday, killing at least 75 people, burning shops and a traditional ruler’s residence, and forcing residents to flee. Some reports suggest a higher death toll.
Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq described the incident as a “pure massacre” and confirmed that at least 75 victims had been buried.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the deployment of an army battalion under Operation Savannah Shield to reinforce security in the state.
Political groups, including a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Northern States Governors’ Forum, have condemned the killings as barbaric and indicative of worsening insecurity in the region.
