The head of Woro community in Kwara State, Umar Bio Salihu, has disclosed that armed bandits operated for nearly 10 hours across several villages before security operatives arrived, leaving dozens of residents dead and widespread destruction in their wake.
Speaking on ARISE Television on Thursday, Salihu said the attackers began their assault around 5pm, but military personnel only arrived at about 3am the following day, by which time the bandits had already withdrawn.
“I called after 5pm, but they did not come until about 3am. That is about 10 hours,” he said. “When the military arrived, the bandits had gone. There was no engagement and no air interdiction.”
Salihu explained that the affected communities had been left exposed after soldiers previously stationed in the area were withdrawn following an earlier attack on the military base. According to him, about 15 soldiers had been deployed there before the base was evacuated three to five months ago.
“Since then, there has been no security presence. That gave them the opportunity to come anytime and do whatever they like,” he stated.
He identified the attackers as members of the Mamuda terrorist group, saying the assault followed the community’s refusal to accept the group’s ideology.
“Our people are not ready to accept that ideology. I believe that is what angered them and led to the attack,” Salihu said.
Dismissing claims that the killings were religiously motivated, the traditional ruler
“About 95 per cent of those killed are Muslims, while about five per cent are Christians,” he noted.
Salihu also revealed that he had earlier reported a threat letter allegedly sent by the attackers to security agencies, raising concerns that sensitive information may have been compromised.
“The letter was brought directly to me. That same night, I sent it to the DSS in Kiama. The following day, I personally took it to the Emirate Council, where it was photocopied. In that process, I believe the appropriate contact may have been lost,” he said.
He added that after security agents carried out patrols following the letter, the attackers became more aggressive.
At least 75 people have so far been buried, Salihu disclosed, adding that the death toll could rise as bodies are still being recovered from nearby bushes. Several villages were razed during the attack, including his own home.
“They burned almost half of the villages, including my house,” he said.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has since visited the affected communities and ordered the deployment of security personnel. President Bola Tinubu has also approved the immediate deployment of an Army battalion under a new counter-offensive operation, as troops and forest guards move into the area to restore security.
The incident is part of a growing wave of attacks across north-central and north-west Nigeria, where rural communities continue to face deadly assaults despite ongoing military operations.
