Kaiama Survivors Say Govt Ignored Alerts Before Terrorists Slaughtered 170

 Residents of Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have accused the state government of ignoring repeated security warnings months before Boko Haram–linked terrorists launched a deadly assault that left no fewer than 170 people dead.

Survivors of the massacre told SaharaReporters, in exclusive interviews, that youths and community leaders had consistently raised alarms over the presence of unfamiliar, armed men camping in forests surrounding their villages long before the attack.

According to the residents, reports were made to traditional rulers, local government officials and the Kwara State Government, but no decisive action followed.

“Before the killings, our youths reported several times that strange armed men were hiding in the bushes near our communities,” one resident told SaharaReporters. “They informed the traditional ruler, the local government and even the state. Everybody knew, but nobody came to protect us.”

Another survivor said the warnings intensified around July and August 2025, when suspicious movements in the forests increased.

“We begged the authorities to deploy security operatives to clear the forests. We were assured help was coming, but nothing happened,” the resident said. “At a point, the governor even promised soldiers would be deployed. No soldier ever came. We were abandoned.”

The residents said the terrorists later struck in a coordinated operation, attacking multiple villages, killing men, women and children, burning homes and forcing survivors to flee.

“What happened did not start overnight,” another resident said. “These people were around us for months. We warned the authorities. If they had listened, this massacre could have been prevented.”

Survivors described the attack as lasting several hours, with no immediate intervention from security forces.

“They came in large numbers, shooting and shouting. People ran in all directions. Houses were set on fire. Entire families were wiped out,” a resident recounted. “We are still counting the dead.”

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who visited Kaiama on Wednesday alongside security chiefs, said at least 75 people were killed, describing the victims as Muslims who were murdered for refusing to submit to what he called a “strange and misguided doctrine” preached by the terrorists.

However, residents disputed the official figures, insisting the death toll was far higher.

“Anybody who believes fewer than 100 people died should come here and count the corpses,” one resident said. “The government came after the killings. That is eye-service. They knew this attack was coming and did nothing.”

Community members maintain that the tragedy was avoidable and blame what they describe as government negligence and failure to act on credible intelligence.

“We did our part by reporting early,” a survivor said. “If soldiers had been deployed when we raised the alarm, these terrorists would not have stayed here to plan and kill our people.”

SOURCE : SaharaReporters