Dozens of people have been killed in a ferocious shooting attack on two villages in Nigeria's western state of Kwara, according to authorities and rights groups. The attackers also set fire to shops and homes, along with the residence of the traditional leader, forcing the residents of Nuku and Woro to flee, local lawmaker Saidu Baba Ahmed reported. Officials have blamed jihadist groups and deployed an army battalion to Kwara's Kaiama constituency.
The recent assault, which is one of several such incidents in Nigeria, coincides with the confirmation from the country's defense minister regarding the presence of a small contingent of US troops in Nigeria for intelligence and training support. President Bola Tinubu and local lawmaker Mohammed Omar Bio have suggested that groups like Boko Haram and Lakurawa, tied to the Islamic State, are behind the violence.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq stated that 75 local Muslims were ‘massacred in cold blood’ for resisting extremist demands. While initial reports indicated at least 35 dead, later assessments by human rights organizations revealed the toll may exceed 200.
A Red Cross official reported that 162 bodies had been discovered, with searches ongoing. Amnesty International has also cited over 170 deaths, highlighting brutal methods of execution.
These violent incidents are part of a broader pattern of security challenges facing Nigeria, characterized by banditry, kidnapping, and organized jihadist insurgencies. The government's recent military strategies, including collaborations with US forces, have intensified in response to rising attacks, including a series of strikes against militant camps in the northern regions.
As the situation in Kwara evolves, local authorities claim both immediate relief and sustained security measures are crucial to prevent further bloodshed and protect local communities.
The recent assault, which is one of several such incidents in Nigeria, coincides with the confirmation from the country's defense minister regarding the presence of a small contingent of US troops in Nigeria for intelligence and training support. President Bola Tinubu and local lawmaker Mohammed Omar Bio have suggested that groups like Boko Haram and Lakurawa, tied to the Islamic State, are behind the violence.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq stated that 75 local Muslims were ‘massacred in cold blood’ for resisting extremist demands. While initial reports indicated at least 35 dead, later assessments by human rights organizations revealed the toll may exceed 200.
A Red Cross official reported that 162 bodies had been discovered, with searches ongoing. Amnesty International has also cited over 170 deaths, highlighting brutal methods of execution.
These violent incidents are part of a broader pattern of security challenges facing Nigeria, characterized by banditry, kidnapping, and organized jihadist insurgencies. The government's recent military strategies, including collaborations with US forces, have intensified in response to rising attacks, including a series of strikes against militant camps in the northern regions.
As the situation in Kwara evolves, local authorities claim both immediate relief and sustained security measures are crucial to prevent further bloodshed and protect local communities.
