Kaiama attacks: Bandits kill 40 in Kwara communities

At least 40 persons, including children, were reportedly killed by bandits on Tuesday evening in two communities of Woro and Nuku in the Kaiama local government area of Kwara.

The development, which is an update on the 10 victims of the attack earlier reported, was confirmed by a reliable source in the local government, who sought anonymity.

The source also said that troop of soldiers and forests guards have been deployed to the two communities to ensure safety and security.

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“The casualties are over 40 as we speak and soldiers and Forests Guards have taken over the two communities. It’s such a very sad development at a time we think we are having peace from the bandit attacks of the pas”, he said.

Tribune Online on Tuesday published that bandits in a renewed onslaught attacked two communities of Woro and Nuku in the Kaiama local government area of Kwara state on Tuesday evening.

It was gathered that many families lost their loved ones in the violent attack, while several houses were reportedly burnt by the bandits.

Tribune Online gathered that the bandits, who launched their attack from neighbouring town of Borgu in Niger state, reportedly came to preach to residents in the two communities that they should jettison Nigeria constitution and embrace Qur’an.

It was also gathered that the bandits had been going around the neighbouring Niger state villages preaching same before they infiltrated the affected communities in Kaiama local government area of Kwara state.

“During the sermon, there were dissenting voices to the preaching which infuriated the bandits, prompting them to open gun shots attack on the congregation.

“The angry bandits opened gin shot attack indiscriminately on the congregation and no fewer than 40 residents of the two communities died, few of them escaped.
They should be preparing mass burial for them as we speak”, the source said.

Meanwhile, the state government, through a statement by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, confirmed the bandits attack .

The CPS to the Kwara state governor said that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq mourned victims of the Kaiama attack, saying that security forces had continued to improve on counterterrorism operations.

“Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is saddened by the cowardly attack on civilians in Woro and Nuku communities of Kaiama Local Government Area.

“The Governor condemns the attack, which he says is a cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells following the ongoing counterterrorism campaigns in parts of the state and the successes so far recorded.

“Governor AbdulRazaq says the attack was apparently to distract the security forces who have successfully hunted down several terrorist and kidnapping gangs across many parts of the state.

“The Governor expresses heartfelt condolences to Woro and Nuku communities on the sad incident, especially the families affected in the Tuesday attack,” he said.