By Deborah Nnamdi
At least 35 people were killed on Tuesday evening when armed bandits stormed Woro village, a remote community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, in what residents and officials described as the deadliest attack in the area so far in 2026.
The assailants, who struck at about 6:00 pm, reportedly opened fire on residents and set houses and shops ablaze, forcing villagers to flee into surrounding bushland to escape the violence. Several residents were still missing as of Wednesday, raising fears that the death toll could rise.
A member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Saidu Baba Ahmed, said the attack caught the community off guard, with people running in different directions to save their lives. Reuters, citing Ahmed, reported that many residents remained unaccounted for hours after the assault.
Local sources said the attackers were believed to have emerged from forest hideouts around the Borgu National Park in neighbouring Niger State, a known corridor for armed gangs operating across the region. A viral voice message circulated in Ilorin during the attack, urging security agencies to intervene immediately to stop the violence.
A former lawmaker from the area, Hon. Aliyu Mande, confirmed that Woro was invaded by bandits, saying several people were killed and homes destroyed. He added that he had contacted the chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area, who promised to alert the relevant authorities. The Senior Special Assistant on Security to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Alhaji Muhideen Aliyu, also confirmed the attack but said casualty figures were still being verified, noting that urgent efforts were under way to dislodge the attackers.
The violence later spread to nearby Nuku community, where houses were also reportedly burned. The Kwara State Government and federal security agencies had yet to release a detailed official casualty figure as of Wednesday.
Reacting to the incident, Governor AbdulRazaq expressed shock and condemned what he described as a “cowardly attack on innocent civilians” in Woro and Nuku communities. In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor said the assault appeared to be an attempt by terrorist cells to distract security forces following recent counterterrorism operations in parts of the state. He extended condolences to the affected communities and families of the victims.
The attack underscores growing insecurity in north-central Nigeria, as banditry that was once largely concentrated in the northwest continues to spread to new areas. Kwara’s northern districts have become increasingly vulnerable due to their proximity to bandit routes linking Niger and Kebbi states, heightening fears of further attacks and displacement in communities previously considered relatively safe.
