Over 162 people have been executed by terrorists in a deadly attack on Woro village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, on Tuesday, in what has been described as the deadliest armed assault in the state this year.
A Red Cross official and local officials confirmed the figure, as residents described horrific mass killings and burning carried out by the attackers.
Babaomo Ayodeji, secretary of the Kwara State chapter of the Red Cross, stated the verified death toll was 162 as of Wednesday afternoon. A local legislator told Reuters that the number may be as high as 170.
Sa’idu Ahmed, a politician from the Kaiama region, told Reuters that the terrorists rounded up villagers, tied their hands behind their backs, and executed them.
He added that homes and shops were also set ablaze during the attack.
“I am in the village along with military personnel, sorting dead bodies and searching nearby areas,” Ahmed said.
He revealed that numerous villagers escaped into nearby bushes with gunshot injuries, while multiple residents, including the traditional leader of the village, remained unaccounted for as of Wednesday.
Residents claimed that the assailants were jihadists who had earlier addressed the community, insisting that locals reject loyalty to the Nigerian government in favor of Sharia law.
They report that the shooters started shooting during a sermon when locals opposed their demands.
In the meantime, a mass burial for at least 75 victims of the attack took place on Wednesday in the Woro community.
A government representative, speaking anonymously, informed Vanguard that despite rumors indicating the death toll surpassed 150, “75 victims were buried en masse this afternoon (Wednesday).”
Abubakar Danladi, the Chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area, headed an official team to the impacted communities during the burial.
Umar Tanko, the village head of Woro and one of the survivors, stated he was absent when the attackers hit but lost family members during the incident.
He said, “I was away at my shop where I sell goods when an army of bandits arrived at my residence on Tuesday evening. My daughter and two sons were shot dead, while my second wife and two others were abducted.”
Another survivor, Razaq Abdulazeez, who lives on the outskirts of the town, said he narrowly escaped with his family, saying, “I was returning home from work when I saw many people running towards the outskirts of the town. I asked what happened and was told they were escaping the wrath of bandits who had come to attack the community.
“I rushed to my house, packed my family members, and we escaped into the deep bush on the outskirts of the town. Many people who could not run out of town climbed trees to avoid the bandits’ attack.”
Among the deceased was Salihu Bio Khalid, a student at the Kwara State College of Nursing Sciences, KWASCONS.
The deceased was a midwifery student and a past president of the Student Union Government (SUG) and was allegedly murdered with his brother.
