The head of Woro community in Kwara State, Umar Bio Salihu, has said armed bandits attacked the area for about 10 hours before security operatives arrived, resulting in dozens of deaths and the destruction of several villages.
Salihu disclosed this on Thursday during an interview on ARISE Television. He said the attackers began their operation around 5pm, but soldiers only arrived at about 3am the following day, by which time the bandits had already withdrawn.
According to him, there was no air interdiction during the attack. He added that the community had been left vulnerable after soldiers previously stationed in the area were withdrawn following an earlier assault on the military base.
Salihu said the attackers were members of the Mamuda terrorist group, alleging that the assault followed the community’s rejection of the group’s ideology. He dismissed claims that the killings were religiously motivated, noting that most of the victims were Muslims.
He further revealed that he had earlier reported a threat letter allegedly sent by the attackers to security agencies, expressing concern that sensitive information may have been compromised in the process.
Salihu said at least 75 people had been buried, adding that the death toll could rise as more bodies were being recovered from surrounding bushes. Several villages, including his residence, were reportedly razed.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has visited the affected communities and ordered the deployment of security personnel. President Bola Tinubu has also approved the immediate deployment of an Army battalion to the area.
