Evening Raid Shatters Kwara Communities: Woro, Nuku Hit as Homes Go Up in Flames

 Armed bandits on Tuesday evening attacked Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, leaving at least 10 residents dead and several houses destroyed, according to community sources and the state government.

The attack occurred around 6:00 p.m. on February 3, 2026, when gunmen—reported to be about 200 in number—stormed the villages, firing sporadically and triggering panic as residents fled for safety.

A community leader confirmed the casualty figure, adding that many homes were set ablaze during the assault. He said the attackers were suspected to be bandits operating from forest areas linked to the Borgu axis of Niger State, who invaded Woro in large numbers.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen moved from house to house, torching buildings and forcing families to abandon their homes. Several villagers were reportedly caught in the crossfire while attempting to escape, while others were attacked inside their residences.

Another resident of Kaiama, Idris Mohammed, said six bodies were seen at the palace of the Emir of Woro, Alhaji Saliu Bio Umar, as the community struggled to account for the dead and injured.

The Kwara State Government confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye. In the statement, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq expressed deep sorrow over the attack and extended condolences to the affected families.

“The Governor condemns the attack, describing it as a cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells following the ongoing counterterrorism campaigns and the successes recorded so far,” the statement said.

According to the government, the assault appeared aimed at distracting security forces who have recently intensified operations against terrorist and kidnapping gangs across parts of the state.

The lawmaker representing Kaiama at the Kwara State House of Assembly, Halidu Danbaba, also confirmed the incident and appealed to both the state and federal governments to extend ongoing military operations—currently active in parts of Kwara South—to Kaiama, especially as schools resume in the area.

Source: Kwara State Government (CPS to the Governor); community leaders and eyewitness accounts.