Death Toll Hits 40 as Soldiers, Forest Guards Move into Attacked Kwara Communities

Security personnel have taken control of Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State after a deadly attack left at least 40 residents dead on Tuesday evening.

Local sources said soldiers and Forest Guards were deployed overnight as authorities moved to stabilise the area and prevent further violence.

A senior local government source, who requested anonymity, confirmed the rising casualty figure on Wednesday morning.

“The number of those killed is now over 40. Soldiers and Forest Guards are on ground in both communities. It is a tragic setback at a time people believed the area was regaining calm,” the source said.

Residents reported that the attackers stormed the two communities during a gathering and opened fire after some people challenged their message. Several homes were also set ablaze during the assault.

Families in both communities are preparing for mass burials as survivors recount the scale of the violence and the speed at which the situation deteriorated.

Kwara State Government confirmed the incident in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye.

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq expressed condolences to the affected communities and said security agencies were intensifying operations in the area.

He described the attack as an attempt to disrupt ongoing counter-terrorism efforts and assured residents that security forces were working to restore order.