Kwara Community Endures Prolonged Bandit Assault Before Security Arrival
Residents of Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have provided harrowing accounts of a prolonged bandit attack that lasted approximately ten hours before security forces arrived at the scene. The village head, Umar Bio Salihu, disclosed these details during an interview with ARISE Television, painting a grim picture of vulnerability and delayed response that contributed to significant loss of life and property destruction.
Extended Attack Timeline and Security Response Gap
According to Salihu, the armed assailants initiated their assault around 5:00 PM, yet military personnel only reached the affected communities at approximately 3:00 AM the following day. This ten-hour window allowed the attackers to operate with impunity, resulting in substantial casualties and widespread devastation. The village head emphasized that by the time security forces arrived, the bandits had already completed their operations and departed the area, leaving residents to face the aftermath without immediate protection.
Salihu further explained that the community's vulnerability stemmed from the withdrawal of military presence months earlier. Woro previously maintained a military base with approximately fifteen soldiers stationed locally, but these personnel were evacuated following an earlier attack on the base itself. This removal of security infrastructure created what residents describe as a security vacuum that emboldened criminal elements to strike at will.
Absence of Air Support and Identification of Attackers
The community leader highlighted another critical deficiency during the assault: the complete absence of air interdiction or aerial support. Without this crucial military capability, residents were left to confront ground-based attackers without any form of air cover or surveillance assistance. Salihu identified the perpetrators as members of the Mamuda terrorist group, suggesting the violence resulted from the community's refusal to adopt the group's ideological stance.
Contrary to some circulating narratives, Salihu insisted the attack was not religiously motivated, noting that approximately ninety-five percent of the victims were Muslim, with only five percent identifying as Christian. This clarification challenges simplistic interpretations of the violence while underscoring the complex security dynamics affecting the region.
Pre-Attack Warning and Escalating Casualties
Salihu revealed that the community had received a threatening letter prior to the attack, which was promptly reported to security agencies including the Department of State Services. However, he expressed concern that the handling of this intelligence may have compromised operational security. The village head suggested that standard bureaucratic procedures involving document photocopying and distribution through multiple channels might have inadvertently alerted the attackers to security preparations.
The human cost continues to mount as recovery operations persist. Salihu confirmed at least seventy-five burials had been conducted, with expectations that this number will increase as search teams recover additional bodies from surrounding bush areas. Multiple villages suffered extensive property damage during the assault, including the complete destruction of the village head's own residence.
Government Response and Regional Security Context
In the aftermath of the attack, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited affected communities and ordered the deployment of additional security personnel to the area. This local response coincides with broader national security initiatives, including President Bola Tinubu's approval of an Army battalion deployment under a new counter-offensive operation. Military units and forest guards have since moved into the region to restore stability and prevent further attacks.
The Woro community attack represents part of a disturbing pattern of violence affecting north-central and north-western Nigeria, where rural populations continue to face deadly assaults despite ongoing military operations. These incidents highlight persistent security challenges in remote areas and raise questions about response protocols and intelligence coordination between communities and security agencies.
As recovery efforts continue and security forces establish presence in the region, residents remain cautiously hopeful that strengthened measures will prevent similar tragedies. The detailed accounts from Woro community members provide crucial insights into attack dynamics and response limitations that security planners must address to protect vulnerable populations across Nigeria's conflict-affected regions.
