At least 75 dead as international community condemns Kwara massacre
The United Nations, the United States and Türkiye have condemned a deadly attack in Nigeria’s Kwara state that left at least 75 people dead, describing the killings as “heinous”.
Gunmen attacked the communities of Woro and neighbouring Nuku in Kaiama local government area on Tuesday, setting fire to homes and shops, destroying the residence of a traditional ruler and forcing residents to flee. Several people were injured, while some reports have suggested the death toll may be higher.
In a post on X, the UN secretary general, António Guterres, said he “strongly condemn[ed] the terrorist attack of 3 February in Kwara state”.
“My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and government of Nigeria,” he said. “I wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”
The United States mission in Nigeria also issued a statement condemning what it described as a “horrific attack”, noting that casualty figures remained unclear and that many people were still unaccounted for.
“We express our deepest condolences to the families of those affected by this senseless violence,” the statement said. The US welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s order to deploy security forces to protect affected communities and his directive for federal and state authorities to provide humanitarian assistance and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
Türkiye said it was “deeply saddened” by the attack. In a statement published by its foreign ministry, Ankara said it “strongly condemn[ed] this heinous attack” and reaffirmed its support for Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.
Nigeria’s inspector general of police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate deployment of tactical, operational and intelligence assets to the affected area. The police described the incident as tragic and said a manhunt was under way to apprehend the perpetrators.
Kwara state governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq called the attack a “pure massacre” and confirmed that at least 75 victims had already been buried.
President Tinubu has ordered the deployment of an army battalion to reinforce security in the state under Operation Savannah Shield, a military initiative aimed at countering armed groups and violent crime.
Political organisations, including a faction of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and the Northern States Governors’ Forum, have also condemned the killings, describing them as barbaric and a sign of worsening insecurity in parts of the country.