Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — At least ten villagers were killed and multiple homes razed in a coordinated attack on communities in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on the evening of February 3, 2026, authorities and local sources reported. The assault, which targeted the rural settlements of Woro and Nuku shortly before dusk, has heightened concerns over expanding militant violence in Nigeria’s north‑central region and renewed debate about the capacity of security forces to protect vulnerable communities. Verified accounts indicate that heavily armed assailants entered the villages around 6:00 p.m., firing indiscriminately and setting residences and food stores ablaze before withdrawing into surrounding terrain.
Witnesses and community leaders described scenes of chaos as the attackers, widely described as “bandits” by local and state officials, rode into the settlements on motorcycles. Sporadic gunfire and the sight of flames consuming structures drove residents into nearby bushlands, many fleeing on foot in search of safety. At least ten civilian deaths have so far been confirmed, though relatives and community representatives warned that the toll could rise as search teams continue to account for missing villagers who escaped into dense vegetation. “They came in large numbers, shooting and burning — people were running in every direction,” one resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
Destruction in Woro and Nuku was extensive. Locals said that homes, food stores and community infrastructure were deliberately targeted, deepening fears of food insecurity and displacement in an already fragile area. Several residents reported that attackers looted food supplies and valuables before departing, leaving families without shelter and with limited resources as temperatures dropped overnight. Multiple entire compounds were described as burned to the ground, with survivors recounting scenes of horrific loss and displacement.
The Kwara State Government condemned the attack in a statement issued late on Tuesday night. Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and destruction, characterising the violence as a “cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells” seeking to undermine ongoing security efforts in the state. According to the statement, Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq is personally monitoring the situation and has directed security agencies to intensify operations in the affected areas to prevent further incursions and to secure the safe return of displaced residents.
“The governor condemns the attack, which he says is a cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells following the ongoing counter‑terrorism campaigns in parts of the state and the successes so far recorded,” the statement read. Government representatives also asserted that the timing of the raid suggested an intent to divert attention from simultaneous security operations targeting criminal networks throughout Kwara and neighbouring states.
Local security officials have not formally identified the group responsible for the assault. Initial media reports and resident accounts referred to the perpetrators as “bandits,” a term routinely applied in Nigeria to describe loosely organised criminal groups involved in kidnapping, cattle rustling, and village raids across the northwest and north‑central regions. Some local leaders and social media commentary, however, attributed the violence to militants linked to the now fragmented Boko Haram insurgency, specifically citing historical presence of factions near the Nigeria‑Niger border. While state and federal security sources have not confirmed a direct Boko Haram claim of responsibility, the governor’s use of language such as “terrorist cells” aligns the incident with wider patterns of extremist violence that have affected parts of northern Nigeria for more than a decade.
Security analysts caution that labels such as “bandit” and “militant” often overlap in Nigeria’s evolving conflict landscape. Groups that once operated as loosely affiliated criminal networks have increasingly adopted ideologically driven rhetoric or forged tactical alliances with jihadist factions such as Boko Haram’s Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal‑Jihad (JAS) faction or the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). These dynamics have complicated efforts by security forces to categorise and counter threats in regions far from the traditional Boko Haram strongholds in northeastern states like Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
The attack on Woro and Nuku follows a pattern of escalating violence in Kwara North, a region long plagued by criminal raids and insecurity. Local reporting and historical incident logs confirm that communities in Kaiama and neighbouring Baruten Local Government Areas have experienced repeated incursions by armed groups over the past year, contributing to displacement, disruption of farming activities and erosion of local confidence in protection frameworks. Some residents have cited groups such as the “Mahmuda” faction — a name associated with splinter extremist elements — as increasingly active in the area, though official confirmation of such affiliations has remained limited.
The government’s response to the attack included the mobilisation of additional security personnel to the affected axis, according to state officials. Military and police units have reportedly been tasked with tracking the assailants into the surrounding forests, mountaintops and other difficult terrain where armed groups are believed to shelter. Authorities in Ilorin and Abuja emphasised cooperation between local and federal agencies to prevent further incursions, protect displaced civilians and restore basic services.
For residents of Woro and Nuku, the immediate priority remains recovery and survival. Families who escaped the violence are sheltering in neighbouring communities, with several reported to be without food or basic supplies. Humanitarian responders and local authorities have been urged to increase support, including emergency food distribution, temporary housing and medical assistance, as survivors cope with trauma and loss. The assault has also prompted renewed appeals from community leaders for a more sustained and present security footprint in north‑central rural areas.
The incident has elicited responses from civil society groups and advocacy organisations, which called for urgent measures to address rural insecurity. Some observers have pointed out that repeated raids in agrarian zones have disrupted farming cycles, risking broader food security issues at a time when Nigeria’s agricultural sector is critical for both local livelihoods and national food supply. Others noted that without a comprehensive approach integrating intelligence, community engagement and development programmes, the cycle of violence and displacement could deepen.
At the national level, the assault has re‑ignited discussions about Nigeria’s broader security strategy in peripheral regions beyond the northeast. Federal authorities have invested in various counter‑insurgency operations, including targeted raids on jihadist camps in Borno and surrounding states, and efforts to degrade insurgent capabilities. Recent reports confirmed that the Nigerian army killed a high‑ranking Boko Haram commander and several militants in Borno State as part of ongoing military campaigns.
Despite such operations, analysts and local leaders argue that strategy must adapt to the diffuse and decentralised nature of violence that increasingly affects states like Kwara. They stress that counter‑terrorism efforts should combine kinetic operations with improved intelligence, community policing and socioeconomic development to reduce the appeal of armed groups and strengthen resilience in vulnerable areas.
The February 3 attack in Kwara State underscores the persistent security challenges facing rural Nigeria, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated action by government, security forces and community stakeholders to prevent further loss of life and restore stability to affected regions.
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