Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has said no fewer than 75 residents were killed in a deadly attack on two communities in Kaiama Local Government Area after they allegedly resisted attempts by extremists to impose a “strange doctrine” on them.
The Red Cross had earlier said about 162 persons were killed during the attack.
The governor made the disclosure on Wednesday during a visit to the affected area alongside security chiefs and members of the state executive council. He described the killings as a cowardly act carried out by terrorist cells operating in the region.
The attack reportedly occurred on Tuesday evening in the villages of Woro and Nuku, where gunmen were said to have rounded up residents, tied their hands and opened fire.
Confirming the incident, the state police spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the assault began around 6 p.m. on Tuesday. She noted that security operatives had since been deployed to the communities, while investigations into the number of casualties and missing persons were ongoing.
However, AbdulRazaq put the death toll at 75.
A video shared on the Kwara State Government’s official X handle showed the governor at a traditional palace, flanked by military officers and community leaders, as he sympathised with survivors and announced federal intervention.
In his remarks, AbdulRazaq suggested that the victims were targeted for refusing to accept extremist teachings.
“We commiserate with you over the death of 75 of your people. May Allah grant them Aljanah Firdaus.
“From the information available, this village refused to succumb to a perverted form of Islamic doctrine. These villagers chose to remain steadfast in their faith, and because they would not accept any alteration, they were attacked and massacred.
“This is different from the usual cases of kidnapping or looting. This was a deliberate massacre, and it is strongly condemned,” the governor said.
He added that President Bola Tinubu had approved the immediate deployment of an army battalion under “Operation Savannah Shield” to conduct counter-operations against those responsible for the attack.