Armed bandits, on Tuesday evening, struck Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government in Kwara State, killing about 10 people. They also burnt several houses to ashes.
According to sources, the outlaws, said to be from the Borgu National Park forest in the neighbouring Niger State, struck Kaiama at about 6:00 pm, firing sporadically and sending residents into a panic.
In a viral voice message in Ilorin, a man was heard confirming the attack on the people of Woro community and urging the security agencies to act swiftly to dislodge the rampaging bandits in the area.
He said, “Information reaching us is that Woro community, under Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, is under attack by the bandits right now. This is a clarion call on security agencies to please act with immediate effect.”
Meanwhile, a former member of Kwara State House of Assembly from Woro community, Hon. Aliyu Mande, confirmed in a telephone conversation the invasion of his community by armed bandits.
He said, “It’s true that the bandits attacked our community (Woro) this evening around 5pm. As I speak with you, the bandits are still operating in the community. They told me that the bandits, who probably came from the National Park in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, killed up to 10 people and also burnt houses.”
“I have spoken with the chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area, who promised to rise to the occasion by informing the appropriate authorities,” Mande added.
Also, the Senior Special Assistant on Security to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Alh. Muhideen Aliyu, confirmed the attack on Woro community, but couldn’t confirm the casualty figure, saying that details of the attack were still sketchy.
Aliyu, however, said something urgent was being done to dislodge the bandits from the community.
Meanwhile, Governor AbdulRazaq has expressed shock at what he described as a cowardly attack on civilians in Woro and Nuku communities of Kaiama LGA.
The governor, in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, condemned the attack, which he said “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.”
AbdulRazaq said the attack was apparently to distract the security forces, who have successfully hunted down several terrorists and kidnapping gangs across many parts of the state.
The governor expressed heartfelt condolences to Woro and Nuku communities on the sad incident, especially the families affected in the attack.
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