By Kingsley Omonobi, Dapo Akinrefon, Henry Umoru, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Bashir Bello, John Alechenu, Luminous Jannamike ABUJA — Umar Salihu, the leader of Woro village in Kwara State, has claimed that prior to the arrival of security forces, terrorists attacked his community for almost ten hours, killing numerous people and razing the village.
In an interview with ARISE News yesterday, Salihu stated that although authorities received distress calls quickly after the attack started, around 5 p.m., soldiers didn’t show up until around 3 a.m. the next day.
Additionally, he said that since he had submitted a threat letter to security services, vital intelligence might have been compromised.
In the meantime, the Defence Headquarters, or DHQ, expressed shock over the tragic loss of innocent lives in what it described as cowardly terrorist attacks on Woro and neighboring communities in Kaiama, Kwara State, and stated that troops were quickly dispatched to dominate the general areas with vigorous patrols and surveillance among other security measures for roughly two weeks.
This occurred as the Peoples Democratic Party, or PDP, described the tragedy as a somber reflection of the nation’s growing insecurity and accused the Federal Government of disregarding security warnings before to the reported massacre in the Woro community.
“I called about 5 p.m., but they did not come until about 3 a.m.,” Salihu stated during the interview. That was between 5 p.m. and roughly 3 a.m. That is roughly ten hours.
Salihu revealed that no combat occurred because the attackers had already left by the time the troops arrived.
“They were not attacked by the military. When the troops arrived, the bandits had left,” he said.
Additionally, he attested to the absence of air interdiction throughout the assault.
“They weren’t engaged by the plane. They didn’t issue an injunction. They didn’t drop any ammunition on them, according to Salihu.
The village chief claimed that after an earlier attack, soldiers who had been stationed there had been evacuated, leaving the population exposed.
We used to have a military base there. There were perhaps fifteen of our soldiers present. They attacked the soldiers between three and five months ago. They have since evacuated them. There is no security presence there.
“That allowed them to come whenever they wanted, enter whenever they wanted, and do whatever they wanted.”
Salihu stated that the violence occurred when the community rejected the Mamuda terrorist group’s ideology and confirmed that the attackers were members of that group.
“Exactly. That philosophy is not acceptable to our people. He stated, “I believe that is what enraged them to attack the communities.”
In response to accusations of religious conflict, he stated that the majority of the victims were Muslims.
The majority of those they slaughtered were Muslims. Five percent are Christians and approximately 95% are Muslims. Although the majority are Muslims, not all of them are.
It’s possible that sensitive intelligence was compromised.
The village chief revealed that he had informed security services about a threat letter.
“They delivered the letter straight to me. I mailed the letter to Kaiama’s Department of State Security (DSS) that evening.
“I personally delivered the letter to the Emirate Council the next day. They made a photocopy of it. I believe they lost the proper communication along that procedure,” he continued.
Salihu speculated that the terrorists might have been warned by the revelation.
“The terrorists became enraged when the security guards went on patrol following the letter.”
Although bodies were still being retrieved, Salihu disclosed that at least 75 people had been buried.
We buried seventy-five persons as of yesterday. There are still dead bodies in the jungle, nevertheless, as I talk to you.
“My house was among the nearly half of the villages that were burned,” Salihu revealed.
Governor AbdulRazaq visited the impacted communities and issued an order for the urgent deployment of security, according to the village chief.
“Kaiama was visited by the governor. To find out what transpired, he personally went there. He witnessed the devastation.
“They acted right away. They ordered security to be provided by the barracks. He said, “There are currently about 80 security agents there, and about 15 soldiers were deployed.”
When word of an attack was received, troops were quickly deployed—DHQ
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria, commends the indomitable Nigerian spirit exhibited by various Nigerian communities that have been targeted by terrorists,” stated a statement released yesterday by Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defense Information.
“The resilient people of Woro and surrounding areas once again demonstrated this amazing spirit, refusing to give up their way of life and constitutional commitment in the face of threats and standing steady against physical compulsion.
“The AFN grieves with the families of those who have lost loved ones in these and other heinous attacks on helpless Nigerians defending freedom and community values.”
It will be remembered that terrorists approached Kaiama’s Woro village and asked to hold a preaching and brainwashing session there, but the residents flatly refused.
After the military was notified, troops were quickly sent to control the general areas with vigorous patrols, surveillance, and other security measures for around two weeks.
But weeks later, the vile terrorists came back to murder innocent civilians as a form of protest and to intimidate locals and others.
The DHQ exhorts people to stand fast to their personal convictions, their confidence in the Nigerian Constitution, and the common ideals that unite our country.
“The DHQ urges all Nigerians to oppose any kind of ideological indoctrination by violent extremist groups, regardless of their ethnic, religious, or regional identity.”
The second series of killings was stopped by deployment — Source
“Thank God troops arrived otherwise there would have been a second round of killings,” stated a military insider who was aware of operational orders to deploy right away.
Due to the challenging terrain, it takes more than four hours to get to the area during the day. In addition to the terrorist-planted IEDs that we had to remove to allow troops to pass, it will undoubtedly be slower at night.
IGP directs the deployment of information and tactical resources to Kaiama
In the meantime, Kaiama has received tactical and intelligence support from IGP Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police.
In response, the Inspector-General of Police has ordered the immediate deployment of tactical, operational, and intelligence assets to Kaiama and nearby areas, according to a statement released yesterday by Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin.
Restoring peace, bolstering the security presence, and stopping additional violent acts are the goals of this effort.
“To find the culprits and everyone associated with this horrible act, the Force has initiated a vigorous manhunt.
“All available resources have been mobilized to guarantee that those involved are found, captured, and brought to justice. Investigations are now in progress.
“The law’s long arm will not spare the offenders.”
PDP charges FG with disregarding security alerts
“The sad and shocking news of the killing of about 170 people (as reported by Al Jazeera) by terrorists in Woro community of Kwara State is another painful reminder of the new reality of heightened insecurity that Nigerians have been faced with under the Tinubu APC Presidency,” the PDP faction led by Tanimu Turaki said in a statement released by National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong. We offer our sincere condolences to the families of those who have lost loved ones in this heinous act.
The most agonizing aspect of this tragic tale is that, according to a number of local leaders, the government was aware of the impending attack for months without taking any significant proactive measures, which makes the military deployment that followed the carnage ineffective, reactive, and careless. The military’s presidential deployment cannot undo the trauma inflicted on the community or bring the dead back.
“The current ad hoc and reactionary approaches used by this government have proven miserably inadequate and have resulted in fatalities. The Tinubu administration has to be reminded that solving complicated issues with a reactionary approach has never worked.
Unquestionably, the President is focusing more on politics than on carrying out the government’s main duty, which is to protect people and property. Justice and capable leadership are still demanded by the blood of innocent Nigerians. The party declared, “The time for excuses is over; the time for action is now.”
The most recent incidence, according to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, is too many.
Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has denounced the murders in Kwara State, calling them intolerable and extremely concerning.
“The ongoing killings of innocent Nigerians are unacceptable and deeply troubling,” she stated in a statement released Wednesday.
“The families who have been devastated by these senseless acts have my deepest sympathies. Ensuring justice and safeguarding lives must not be compromised. The government’s top priority should always be protecting our citizens.
In order to stop the growing wave of fear across the nation, she urged federal and state authorities to go beyond rhetoric and put coordinated, practical measures in place.
“Those behind these attacks need to be found and prosecuted right away. Impunity merely gives criminal elements more confidence and makes our people’s misery worse.
These murders highlight how urgently a more human-centered and efficient security architecture is needed. Every level of government must take on the duty of ensuring that our communities may live fearlessly.
Kwankwaso: Terrorists must not be taken lightly.
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the New Nigeria People’s Party’s (NNPP) 2023 presidential candidate, has issued a warning that terrorists must not be handled lightly or permitted to thrive anywhere in the nation.
“I am deeply saddened and horrified by the reported massacre of at least 162 innocent lives in the communities of Woro and Nuku in Kwara State,” the former minister of defense wrote in a post on his verified Facebook profile.
“We strongly condemn this savage attack. It was carried out by terrorist elements that should not be accepted or given room to grow in any area of our country.
“The Federal Government cannot afford to take these events lightly, as I have often warned. These violent organizations are gradually spreading into areas that were once safe and tranquil. The strain on our military forces is increasing daily, and prompt, coordinated response is becoming increasingly necessary.
Lawan denounces murders
Ahmad Lawan, a former president of the Senate, has also denounced the attacks in the Woro community, calling them intolerable and extremely concerning.
“With a heart laden with grief and a sense of national tragedy, I rise to express my deepest, most heartfelt condolences to the government and the people of Kwara,” he said in a statement.
“I applaud President Tinubu for taking fast action in the wake of this enormous tragedy by sending an Army Battalion to Kwara State right away as part of Operation Savannah Shield to combat this threat. This prompt action demonstrates how committed the federal government is to safeguarding our diverse communities and reestablishing long-term security.
“Your strength in this hour of darkness is vital, thus I implore all traditional and community leaders in the impacted areas to maintain calm. We urge everyone to provide our security personnel with critical intelligence and to work together as a community.
Let me state unambiguously that, in accordance with our constitution, the security and well-being of the populace continue to be the core goals of government. These atrocities highlight how urgently and critically our continued legislative and cooperative efforts to restructure our national security architecture are needed.
Gani Adams calls for state police once more.
Iba Gani Adams, Aare-Ona-Kakanfo of Yoruba nation, responded by denouncing the terrible deaths of numerous innocent residents in Kwara State yesterday.
He called the horrific act of violence a serious human rights violation and an insult to the nation’s and the state’s peace and security.
Adams emphasized that state police must be established immediately because they would have neutralized the attack.
“It is essential that the state police be established without further waste of time,” he declared. In order to discourage and quickly address security concerns, the state police would have strengthened their presence and operational capability in sensitive locations, improved cooperation with local populations for early warning signals, and improved rapid reaction procedures.
“Effective intelligence gathering, prompt intervention, and proactive community engagement by the state police could have played a significant role in preventing this tragedy.”
Additionally, he urged the appropriate authorities to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the tragedy, prosecute the offenders, and put strong security measures in place to stop it from happening again.
Tinubu: Nigeria will not cede to radicals posing as religious leaders.
The President Nigeria would never submit its citizens to terrorism and extremism masquerading as religion, Bola Tinubu has once again promised.
The President’s remarks came after over 100 persons were killed by gunmen in Kwara State’s Kaiama Local Government Area.
President Tinubu strongly denounced the incident, calling the culprits “heartless for choosing soft targets in their campaign of terror” and claiming that their actions were an insult to humanity and Nigeria’s common ideals.
President Tinubu promised that those responsible would not escape punishment in a personally signed statement released yesterday evening after meeting with Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
“I met with AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq @RealAARahman, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, today to be debriefed on the incident in Kaiama LGA,” the statement said.
I vehemently denounce this vile and vicious assault. The gunmen’s choice of vulnerable targets in their futile campaign of terror betrays their callousness. Our nation’s shared values, our faith, and our humanity are all offended by their conduct.
After the terrible attack on defenseless people in Worro yesterday, I ordered the rapid deployment of an army unit to the Kaiama Local Government Area in Kwara State. In order to stop these savage terrorists and defend vulnerable areas, our new military leadership will lead Operation Savannah Shield.
The fact that the victims were killed for refusing to submit to a forced indoctrination attempt is especially unsettling. “It is commendable that the community members, even though Muslims, refused to be conscripted into a weird belief that promoted violence over peace and dialogue,” I stated. Nigeria would never allow terrorism and extremism under the guise of religion to control its citizens.
In order to provide urgent assistance and relief to the impacted community and to guarantee that the perpetrators of this crime are apprehended and prosecuted, just like previous terrorists before them, I have also ordered close cooperation between federal and state agencies. They won’t escape punishment.
I offer my sincere sympathies to the families who have lost loved ones and pray for the rest of the departed’s souls. I also feel sorry for the Kwara State government and people.
And the Federal Government is on your side. We shall defend our ideals, safeguard our neighborhoods, and vanquish those who use terror to try to split us apart.
