How Woro and Nuku Were Overrun: Inside the Deadly Jihadist Massacre in Kwara State

The quiet farming communities of Woro and neighbouring Nuku, located in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, were plunged into unspeakable horror when armed jihadists launched a coordinated and brutal attack that left scores dead, families shattered, and entire villages traumatised. What began as an apparent religious outreach request quickly escalated into one of the deadliest extremist assaults recorded in Nigeria’s North-Central region in recent years.

According to eyewitness accounts and local officials, more than 100 heavily armed militants, dressed in military-style fatigues and riding motorcycles, stormed the villages shortly before sunset on Tuesday. Residents were returning from their farms, where they cultivate staple crops such as yams, maize, and millet, when the attackers struck. By the time dawn broke the next day, at least 75 people had been confirmed dead, with fears that the actual toll could be higher.

Abdulla Umar Usman, a former teacher and resident of Woro, described the assault as a calculated act of revenge cloaked in religious extremism. Speaking to the BBC, he said the attackers “came en masse in the name of religion” and systematically targeted the community. Their first stop was the residence of the traditional ruler, Umar Bio Salihu. Days earlier, the militants had sent a letter requesting permission to visit and preach an extremist interpretation of Islam—an overture the community rejected.

Salihu was not at home when the militants arrived. In his absence, they set his compound ablaze and murdered two of his children, both medical students, in front of the house. From there, the violence spiralled into an all-night killing spree. Homes and shops were torched, residents were hunted down, and entire families were wiped out.

Local officials and human rights groups painted a grim picture of the aftermath. Mohammed Dauda, a local government official, described the massacre as devastating and unprecedented in the area. Amnesty International later confirmed that many victims were found with their hands and feet bound, some with slit throats, others shot at close range—clear indications of execution-style killings.

When the attackers withdrew the following morning, they abducted at least 38 women and children, including Salihu’s wife and remaining children. The militants reportedly demanded that villagers renounce the Nigerian state and its constitution, insisting instead on allegiance to their extremist ideology and an alternative system of rule. Salihu rejected this demand, stating that such actions fundamentally contradict the teachings of the Quran.

In the days that followed, mass burials became a grim necessity. Bodies were retrieved from homes, farmlands, and nearby bushes. Exhausted residents dug graves until they could no longer continue. Dauda said he personally helped bury more than 30 victims, adding that the community had never experienced violence of this scale.

The Nigerian government has blamed Boko Haram for the attack, although the group has not officially claimed responsibility. Security analysts believe the assault may be linked to the Mahmuda faction, a splinter group operating in forested areas of Kwara and neighbouring Niger State. Amnesty International revealed that the militants had been distributing leaflets in Woro and Nuku for several months, attempting to radicalise residents. When the communities resisted, threats followed.

Local lawmaker Saidu Baba Ahmed confirmed that the traditional ruler had alerted security agencies after receiving the latest warning letter. Although soldiers briefly visited the area, they left shortly afterward. The attack reportedly occurred soon after, raising serious questions about intelligence failures and the adequacy of the security response. Amnesty International described the incident as a “stunning security lapse,” noting that the attackers operated for hours without resistance—even stopping to pray at a mosque during the assault.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited the area days later and announced that President Bola Tinubu had approved the immediate deployment of an army battalion. However, for survivors, the intervention came far too late. Entire streets lie abandoned, markets are deserted, and the psychological scars remain deep.

Residents believe the attackers emerged from forests near Kainji Lake National Park, a known hideout for armed groups. Although local vigilantes had previously repelled similar attempts, this time the militants appeared to have detailed intelligence, targeting and killing vigilante members early in the attack.

As Woro and Nuku mourn their dead, the massacre underscores a troubling expansion of jihadist violence beyond Nigeria’s traditional flashpoints in the North-East. It also raises urgent questions about early warning systems, community protection, and the state’s capacity to prevent extremist groups from establishing footholds in previously peaceful regions.