Olayiwola Matthew
At least 162 people have been killed in a horrific attack in Kwara State, Nigeria, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the country in recent months, the Red Cross confirmed on Wednesday.
The attack occurred late Tuesday night in a village in the west-central state, following recent military operations in the area targeting what the military described as “terrorist elements.”
Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, had previously confirmed the deaths of 75 people, revealing that the victims were “local Muslims massacred for refusing to surrender to extremists preaching a strange doctrine.”
Governor AbdulRazaq made the disclosure during a visit to the Emir of Kaiama’s palace, where he addressed local residents. He also stated that President Bola Tinubu had approved the immediate deployment of an army battalion under Operation Savannah Shield to counter the attackers and launch counter-offensives.
Babaomo Ayodeji, the Kwara State Secretary of the Red Cross, reported an updated death toll of 162, as search teams continue to comb the area for additional victims.
The earlier death toll stood at 67.
Sa’idu Baba Ahmed, a local lawmaker from the Kaiama region, had earlier told AFP that between “35 to 40 dead bodies were counted” in the aftermath of Tuesday’s attack.
Ahmed further explained that many others had fled into the bush, and more bodies were expected to be discovered.
Police have confirmed the attack, but they did not release official casualty figures.
The state government has blamed “terrorist cells” for the massacre. The attackers raided Woro village around 6:00 pm (1700 GMT), setting shops and the king’s palace ablaze, Ahmed reported.
Last month, the military reported launching “sustained coordinated offensive operations” in Kwara State, claiming to have “neutralized” 150 bandits—killed, according to their terminology—and destroyed several terrorist hideouts and camps in remote areas.