Gunmen have killed nearly 200 people in Kwara and Katsina states, officials and residents confirmed, as survivors buried the dead and security forces launched manhunts for the attackers.
In Kwara, at least 170 people were killed when gunmen stormed the community of Woro on Tuesday evening. A separate attack in Katsina left 21 dead, with gunmen reportedly moving from house to house to shoot victims.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the deployment of an army battalion to Kwara under Operation Savannah Shield, aimed at protecting communities and countering the attackers. He condemned the attacks as “cowardly and barbaric,” saying the gunmen targeted villagers who resisted attempts to impose extremist ideologies.
Although no group has claimed responsibility, residents and officials blamed religious hardliners and Boko Haram-linked militants for the killings. Security sources said the attacks coincided with recent military operations against armed groups in the regions.
Kwara police and the military are conducting search-and-rescue operations for the wounded and any missing residents. Amnesty International condemned the security lapses that allowed the attacks, noting that attackers had been sending warning letters to villagers for months.
The attacks underscore Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis, with violent groups in the northeast, kidnappings for ransom in the northwest, and continued pressure on authorities to restore safety across affected communities. The U.S. has also stepped up cooperation with Nigerian forces to improve security following recent international criticism.
