At least 75 killed in Kwara Communal attacks, Police confirm

The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed that at least 75 people were killed in the recent attacks on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed the casualty figure on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, adding that investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Ejire-Adeyemi said the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, immediately deployed security operatives to the affected communities following the attack, which occurred on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at around 5:30 p.m.

She noted that the location of the attack, approximately two hours from the divisional headquarters in Kaiama, posed challenges for security personnel, but stressed that a police post and a team of officers were present in the community at the time.

“Because of the distance and intensity of the attack, reinforcements took time to arrive. Officers on the ground were likely overwhelmed, but security personnel, local vigilantes, and the National Forest Guard responded swiftly,” Ejire-Adeyemi said.

The PPRO confirmed that ongoing clearance operations in Kwara and neighbouring Kogi State had disrupted bandit activities in recent weeks, though she described the attack as unfortunate.

In response, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun ordered the immediate deployment of tactical, operational, and intelligence assets to the area, while a manhunt for the perpetrators is underway.

Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq described the attack as a “pure massacre,” confirming that at least 75 victims have been buried. President Bola Tinubu has also directed the deployment of an army battalion under Operation Savannah Shield to reinforce security in the state.

Political groups, including a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Northern States Governors’ Forum, have condemned the attacks, describing them as barbaric and indicative of the worsening security situation in the region.