Gunmen have killed at least 162 people in a single attack on Woro village in Kwara state, western Nigeria, according to a Red Cross official. The assault marks one of the deadliest incidents in recent months in a country struggling with overlapping security crises.
Babaomo Ayodeji, the state secretary of the Red Cross, confirmed the updated death toll on Wednesday, saying the search for more bodies was ongoing.
“Reports said that the death toll now stands at 162, as the search for more bodies continues,” he said, revising an earlier count of 67.
Local lawmaker Sa’idu Baba Ahmed, representing the Kaiama region, described the scene following the attack on Tuesday evening.
“We counted between 35 to 40 dead bodies initially,” he said. “Many others escaped into the bush with gunshots. More bodies could still be found.”
Police confirmed the attack but did not release casualty figures. The state government blamed “terrorist cells” for the violence. According to Ahmed, the gunmen arrived around 6 p.m. local time, setting fire to shops and the king’s palace. The whereabouts of the village’s traditional ruler remain unknown.
Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq condemned the killings as “a cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells following the ongoing counter-terrorism campaigns in parts of the state.”
Nigeria faces a complex security landscape. Armed gangs, often called bandits, carry out raids and kidnappings across the country. In the northeast and northwest, jihadist groups remain active, while central states face frequent intercommunal violence.
The Nigerian military has stepped up operations against armed groups, claiming to have killed large numbers of fighters. Last month, the army announced “sustained coordinated offensive operations” in Kwara state, saying it had “neutralised 150 bandits” and destroyed their camps. “Troops also stormed remote camps hitherto inaccessible to security forces, significantly degrading the terrorists’ sustainment capability,” the statement added.
In response to rising insecurity, Kwara authorities have imposed curfews in affected areas and temporarily closed schools, reopening them only this week.
Nigeria’s security record has drawn global attention, with US President Donald Trump last year alleging a “genocide” of Christians, a claim strongly rejected by the Nigerian government and independent analysts. Experts note that violence in the country often affects both Christians and Muslims indiscriminately.
The Woro attack underscores the ongoing challenges facing Nigeria’s security apparatus, highlighting the urgent need for sustained intervention in regions plagued by banditry, insurgency, and communal tensions.
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