Nigeria Sends Troops to Kwara After Suspected Jihadi Assault Leaves 170 Dead
ABUJA, Feb 5 (Reuters) – Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate deployment of an army battalion to the Kaiama district in Kwara state, a response to one of the deadliest attacks this year. Suspected jihadist fighters killed at least 170 people in an overnight assault on Woro village, the presidency confirmed on Thursday.
The Tuesday night raid marks a severe escalation in a region bordering Niger, long a hotspot for insurgent activity. Groups including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have intensified campaigns of village attacks and mass kidnappings in recent months.
Security analysts point to a concerning pattern: jihadist factions, traditionally active in the northeast, appear to be pushing south along the Niger-Kwara axis. Their apparent target is the vast Kainji forest, a potential new stronghold that could offer strategic cover and expand their operational range into more populous central states.
The attack places renewed scrutiny on Nigeria's security strategy. Last year, the country faced international criticism over its handling of Islamist violence. President Tinubu, in his statement, condemned the Woro village attack as "cowardly and barbaric," praising the community's resistance. "It is commendable that community members, even though Muslims, refused to be conscripted into a belief that promotes violence over peace," he said.
Local accounts given to Reuters describe the attackers as jihadists who had been preaching in the area, urging villagers to reject the Nigerian state and adopt strict Sharia rule. The violence erupted after their demands were refused. Saidu Baba Ahmed, a lawmaker representing the district, reported that approximately 38 houses were razed in the assault.
In a grim reminder of the widespread nature of the insecurity, gunmen killed at least 21 people in a separate, coordinated attack in northern Katsina state on the same day, moving from house to house, according to residents and local police.
The new military deployment aims to stem further violence and protect remote communities, but it underscores the formidable challenge of securing Nigeria's vast rural hinterlands against determined militant groups.
Voices from the Public
Chidi Nwankwo, Security Analyst, Abuja: "This isn't an isolated incident; it's a tactical expansion. The push toward Kainji forest is a game-changer. The government's response must be swift but also coupled with community-based intelligence and development programs to undercut the militants' appeal."
Amina Suleiman, Teacher & Community Advocate, Ilorin: "My heart breaks for Woro. These are farmers, families. We feel abandoned. The troops are needed, but where were the preventive measures? We need a permanent security presence, not just a reaction after a massacre."
James Okafor, Business Owner, Lagos: "Enough is enough! 170 lives? This is a failure of governance on a colossal scale. Tinubu's strong words mean nothing if the ground isn't secured. We are becoming numb to these headlines, and that is the greatest tragedy."
Fatima Aliyu, NGO Director, Kaduna: "The narrative that this is purely religious is misleading and dangerous. It fuels division. The victims were both Muslims and Christians. This is about criminal insurgency and territorial ambition exploiting local grievances. Our response must be unified."