New information on the suspected terrorist attack on the Worro and Nuku communities in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara on Tuesday has surfaced.
Mr. Ali Umar, the younger brother of Woro’s traditional ruler, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that the attackers entered his community just after 5:00 p.m. and surrounded it before firing from various directions.
“They arrived at 5:00 p.m. and encircled the entire community.”To ensure that no one could flee, they began firing intermittently from all directions,” he stated.
He clarified that inhabitants who tried to escape were slain, and those who gave up were gathered at the village chief’s palace, where they were shot and bound.
Umar went on to say that among those kidnapped during the attack were his mother, three of his children, and the wife of Hauwa Umar, the community’s traditional ruler.
“Three of the chief’s children, his mother, and his wife are missing.”Five members of his household are so missing,” he continued.
According to Umar, the town was nearly abandoned as many locals fled their houses in a state of terror.
“The community is now almost completely deserted because the people were afraid.”In order to rebuild trust and enable individuals to return, we now require a greater security presence,” he stated.
He pointed out that there had previously been an intelligence report about a potential attack, which had apparently been shared with higher government levels and the local government authorities.
On the day of the attack, some soldiers had previously patrolled the area, according to Umar, who claimed that this had first dissuaded the terrorists.
Additionally, according to NAN, there were murders in the local government area’s Nuku neighborhood.
Arriving in Kaiama on Wednesday night with cabinet members and service chiefs, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq also confirmed that 75 local Muslims had been massacred merely for refusing to submit to extremists who propagated an odd doctrine.
After expressing sympathy to the local communities, the governor declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has authorized the prompt deployment of an army battalion to carry out counteroffensives in the region.
“Operation Savannah Shield” was the code name for the security initiative, he said.
He said, “Some were referred to the Teaching Hospital, but the injured were later taken to the General Hospital.”
Following the ongoing counterterrorism measures in various regions of the state and the accomplishments thus far documented, the governor denounced the attack and called it a cowardly display of frustration by terrorist cells.
He conveyed his deepest sympathies to the Woro and Nuku communities over the incident, particularly to the families impacted by the attack on Tuesday.
The murders in the Woro and Nuku communities have also been denounced by Mr. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, the Speaker of the Kwara House of Assembly.
To drive out criminal elements, the speaker demanded an immediate increase of military operations in the axis bordering Niger in a statement released on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdukadir Shehu.
Danladi-Salihu sent his deepest condolences to Dr. Muazu Omar, the Emir of Kaiama, and the families of those impacted by the tragedies, while also strongly denouncing the senseless violence.
“I offer my condolences to the families of the victims of this terrible attack as well as the Emir of Kaiama.
In order to put a permanent stop to these atrocities, I am advocating for more military action against the offenders and for our communities to work closely with security forces,” he stated.
Additionally, the speaker cautioned the locals to be watchful and attentive.
He pointed out that “elements of destabilization” might try to deflect attention or find safety in different places as military pressure grows throughout the state.
Nonetheless, he restated the Assembly’s resolve to back any and all actions required to guarantee the security and safety of people and property in Kwara. (NAN)
