Terrorists have killed at least 162 people in Kwara State, marking Nigeria’s deadliest armed attack so far in 2026, according to a Red Cross official and local authorities.
The assault occurred on Tuesday in Woro village in Kwara state. Babaomo Ayodeji, the state secretary of the Red Cross, said the confirmed death toll stood at 162 by Wednesday afternoon, according to AFP. A local politician told Reuters the figure is higher, estimating that up to 170 people may have been killed.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on Wednesday night visited the affected communities, accompanied by senior security chiefs and members of the state executive council.
According to the governor, the victims were mostly local Muslims who were killed for refusing to submit to extremists advancing what he described as a strange and violent ideology. Though the governor put the figure of those killed at 75 persons, locals say the number is higher.
“Seventy-five local Muslims were massacred simply for refusing to surrender to extremists who preached a strange doctrine,” Abdulrazaq said.
He described the incident as a departure from the pattern of kidnappings for ransom that has plagued parts of the country, stressing that the attack was a deliberate and targeted mass killing.
“This is different from what we usually see where people are abducted for ransom. This was a pure massacre,” the governor said.
In addition to the loss of lives, several houses were razed as the attackers unleashed destruction on the two rural communities, forcing residents to flee and leaving many displaced.
Abdulrazaq said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the immediate deployment of an army battalion to the area to launch counter-offensive operations aimed at flushing out the attackers and restoring security.
He disclosed that the military operation, codenamed Operation Savannah Shield, would involve sustained ground presence and coordinated action to prevent further attacks in Kwara North and neighbouring areas.
The governor commiserated with families of the victims and assured residents that the government would not abandon the communities, pledging support for affected households and enhanced security measures.
The attack adds to growing concerns over the spread of armed violence into parts of north-central Nigeria previously considered relatively stable, raising fresh questions about rural security and the protection of vulnerable communities.
Residents of the affected areas told officials that fear had gripped surrounding villages, as many communities remain exposed due to their remote location and limited security presence.
The Kwara State Government said it was working closely with federal authorities and security agencies to stabilise the area and prevent further loss of life.