Dozens of people were killed in coordinated attacks on two villages in Nigeria’s western Kwara state after residents refused to submit to jihadist militants, local officials said on Wednesday.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said at least 75 Muslims were “massacred” during Tuesday’s assault on the villages of Woro and Nuku, accusing the attackers of targeting communities that rejected what he described as an extremist ideology.
A local lawmaker, Saidu Baba Ahmed, told reporters that at least 78 bodies had so far been buried, warning the death toll could rise sharply as more victims were recovered from surrounding areas. Some local estimates put the number of dead as high as 170.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu ordered the deployment of an army battalion to the area, blaming Islamist militants linked to Boko Haram for the killings.
In addition to the fatalities, at least 38 people were abducted during the raid, while homes, shops and market stalls were burned, Ahmed said. Survivors fled into nearby forests as gunmen rampaged through the villages for several hours.
Among those killed were two sons of the local traditional ruler, according to resident Abdulla Umar Usman, who added that other members of the ruler’s family were kidnapped.
“The attack started after 5pm and lasted three to four hours,” Usman said, describing heavy gunfire and widespread destruction.
Ahmed said militant activity had been increasing in the area in recent months. He said the attackers had previously contacted residents, claiming they wanted to preach, but the community resisted and mobilised local security groups to keep them out.
Confirming casualty figures has been difficult due to the remoteness of the area. A Red Cross official in Kwara, Babaomo Ayodeji, told AFP that reports indicated at least 162 deaths so far, with search operations still under way.
Amnesty International said more than 170 people may have been killed, adding that many victims were shot at close range and some burned alive. The rights group called for an urgent investigation, citing what it described as a “stunning absence” of adequate security to protect civilians.
In a statement on Wednesday, Governor AbdulRazaq said the attack appeared to be retaliation for recent counter-terrorism operations, suggesting the militants were trying to divert security forces after several armed and kidnapping gangs were dismantled.
The Kwara killings came amid a surge in violence across Nigeria. Amnesty said 21 people were killed on Tuesday in an attack on Doma village in Katsina state, while at least 17 others died the same day in separate attacks in Borno state, attributed to suspected Boko Haram militants.