Over two hundred people were killed in terrorist attacks targeting remote villages in Kwara, Katsina and Benue states on the same day, as news emerged from Kaduna State of the release of all of the Christians abducted from churches in Kurmin Wali.
At least 170 people were killed in Kwara State and an unknown number of women and children were abducted by terrorists who attacked the Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area (LGA) from around 5pm on 3 February until 3pm the following day. Many of the victims were found with their hands bound behind their backs and their throats cut. The dead included women and children.
According to the Woro district head, who stated in an interview with the Nigerian Media House that the terrorists belonged to Mahmuda, an initial distress call to the authorities was made shortly after the attack began, but help only arrived some 10 hours later. A plane reportedly circled the area two hours into the attack, but did not appear to engage the terrorists, who left with the captives before the military arrived, and planted bombs along the route to prevent any effective intervention.
According to the village head, around 90% of the victims were Muslims, while 5% were Christians. A month earlier, the terrorist faction had sent a letter to the Woro community stating they would be coming to indoctrinate the people with their extreme version of Islam. However, the community reported the matter to local authorities, and there is speculation that the attack was launched as punishment after news of the letter sent to the authorities was leaked.
In a message posted on X, Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, condemned the attack on Woro and said he had ‘directed the immediate deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State… [that] will spearhead Operation Savannah Shield to checkmate these barbaric terrorists and protect defenceless communities.’
Also on 3 February, at least 24 people were killed and several others were injured in an armed attack on the Doma A and Doma B communities, located in the Tafoki Ward of Faskari LGA in Katsina State. The attacks reportedly followed the collapse of a fragile truce negotiated between the local authorities and armed groups operating in the area, which was occasioned by the killing of a prominent ‘repentant bandit’. According to locals, despite calls for assistance the killers operated unhindered from around noon until approximately 3pm, shooting villagers and setting fire to homes, shops and vehicles.
A survivor lamented to Nigerian media that ‘It is now abundantly clear the government cannot do anything to protect us, which is their number one responsibility according to the constitution, but the government has failed.’ Worryingly, the killers reportedly informed the communities that the killings were ‘just the beginning.’
In Benue State at least 17 people, including a Mobile Police Force Unit Commander, were killed in an attack by Fulani militia on the Abande community in Mbaikyor Ward, Kwande LGA that was launched on market day. The terrorists looted shops and stole millions of Naira from traders, before setting the market partially on fire.
The attacks coincide with the deployment of a small US military team in Nigeria following renewed security talks. In a statement released on 5 February the Nigerian military clarified that cooperation between the two forces ‘is rooted in mutual respect and focuses on capacity building, professional military education, intelligence sharing, logistics support and strategic dialogue aimed at addressing shared security concerns, including terrorism and transnational threats.’
In other news, all 166 Christians abducted from the Kurmin Wali community in Kaduna State on 18 January have been released, amid a continuing lack of clarity regarding how their freedom was secured. During a meeting with the returned residents on 5 February, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State expressed his government’s commitment to assist with their rehabilitation, and its intention to build internal road networks, a hospital, and a skills acquisition centre in Kurmin Wali.
CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: ‘CSW extends deep condolences to the hundreds grieving these latest attacks in Kwara, Katsina and Benue states. We call on the respective state authorities and the federal government to act swiftly to secure the release of all who have been abducted, and welcome the release of all who were abducted from Kurmin Wali, wishing them a swift and full recovery from their ordeal. However, we reiterate our concern at reports of slow and inadequate reactions from the military as violence was underway, and at clear indications of a remorseless expansion of terrorist activity into the southwest of the country. We urge the Nigerian authorities to move swiftly to address the gaps in security that are being exploited by terrorist factions.’