Nigeria: Over 150 Killed in Kwara for Rejecting Boko Haram Extremists
Villages of Woro and Nuku attacked after residents resisted militant preaching; dozens killed, homes burned, and families kidnapped as Nigerian forces respond
- Over 150 people were killed in Kwara state after villagers refused to submit to Boko Haram extremists
- The attack also involved kidnappings, arson, and mass displacement
- President Bola Tinubu deployed an army battalion to the affected area
Dozens of residents were massacred in Nigeria’s Kwara state after refusing to submit to Islamist militants, in one of the deadliest attacks in recent weeks.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said 75 locals were killed in raids on the villages of Woro and Nuku, while a state lawmaker reported 78 burials so far, with the toll expected to rise as more bodies are recovered.
Amnesty International estimates over 170 deaths, citing victims shot at close range and some burned alive.
President Bola Tinubu has deployed an army battalion to the area, blaming Boko Haram for the assault.
The attack also involved abductions, destruction of homes and shops, and forced villagers to flee.
Among the dead were two sons of a local traditional leader, who also had family members kidnapped.
Eyewitnesses said the attack began around 17:00 local time and lasted three to four hours. The militants had warned the communities of their arrival to preach a strict interpretation of Islam, but residents resisted, prompting the deadly retaliation.
The surge in violence comes amid broader insecurity in Nigeria, with attacks in Katsina and Borno states on the same day killing dozens more. The incidents coincide with increased US military support for Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations, including intelligence assistance and past airstrikes against Boko Haram camps.
Governor AbdulRazaq described the attack as a tactic by militants to distract security forces, who have recently disrupted several terrorist and kidnapping networks. Amnesty International called for a full investigation, highlighting the “stunning absence of any form of security for the protection of lives.”
Nigeria continues to face overlapping threats from Islamist insurgents, criminal gangs, and regional conflicts, despite intensified local and international security efforts.
