Nearly 200 Killed in Terror Attacks Across Nigeria
Attacks by armed gunmen in Kwara, Katsina, and Kano states leave nearly 200 dead as security forces launch rescue operations
- Nearly 200 people killed in coordinated raids across Kwara, Katsina, and Kano states
- Militants executed residents, set homes ablaze, and demanded adoption of Sharia law in some communities
- Nigerian forces launched search-and-rescue operations while the government works with international partners to restore safety
At least 200 people have been killed in a series of violent attacks on remote communities in central and northern Nigeria, officials and residents reported on Wednesday, as security forces launched search-and-rescue operations and pursued the assailants.
In Woro, Kwara State, gunmen stormed the village on Tuesday, killing at least 170 people, according to local lawmaker Saidu Baba Ahmed.
He described the assault as the deadliest in the area this year, noting that attackers tied residents’ hands, executed them, and set homes and shops ablaze. Survivors fled into nearby bushland as the violence unfolded.
“As I speak to you now, I am in the village with military personnel, sorting through the dead and combing surrounding areas for survivors,” Ahmed said, adding that several villagers remain missing. Police confirmed scores of deaths but did not release an official toll.
Residents said the attackers, believed to be jihadists who had previously preached in the area, demanded that villagers abandon allegiance to the Nigerian state and adopt Sharia law. When the locals resisted, the gunmen opened fire.
In a separate attack in Katsina State, at least 21 people were killed as gunmen moved house to house. This raid shattered a six-month peace agreement between the community and the armed group, highlighting the precarious arrangements some northern villages make with militias for temporary protection.
An additional attack was reported in the northern city of Kano, though details remain limited.
Nigeria continues to face mounting pressure to restore security amid persistent militant violence, kidnappings, and communal attacks.
The government denies systematic religious persecution and says it is collaborating with international partners, including the United States, to strengthen nationwide security.
