Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condemned the recent deadly attack on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State, describing the assailants’ actions as “cowardly and beastly” and promising swift military action.
In a statement released on Thursday, President Tinubu said he met with Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to be briefed on the incident and expressed outrage over the targeting of innocent villagers.
“Today, I met with the Executive Governor of Kwara State to be debriefed on the incident in Kaiama LGA. I condemn in the strongest terms this cowardly and beastly attack. The gunmen are heartless for choosing soft targets in their doomed campaign of terror,” the President said.
The attack occurred on Tuesday night and reportedly followed a rejected attempt by militants to forcibly indoctrinate community members. While early reports suggested over 100 fatalities, Governor AbdulRazaq confirmed 75 deaths, describing the victims as local Muslims “massacred for refusing to submit to extremists preaching a strange doctrine.”
President Tinubu praised the courage of the Woro and Nuku residents, noting their refusal to be coerced into violent beliefs. He said the federal government would continue to protect its citizens from extremism.
An Army battalion under Operation Savannah Shield has been deployed to the area. The President said the new command would “checkmate these barbaric terrorists and protect defenceless communities.”
He also called for close cooperation between federal and state agencies to provide relief to victims and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“I have further directed close collaboration between federal and state agencies to provide immediate support and relief to the affected communities and to ensure that those responsible for this atrocity are pursued and brought to justice, just like other terrorists before them. They will not go scot-free,” the President said.
President Tinubu offered condolences to the families of the deceased and assured the people and government of Kwara State of federal support.
“We will protect our communities, defend our values, and defeat those who seek to divide us through terror,” he added.
