President Bola Tinubu on Thursday convened an emergency security meeting with Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, following the brutal massacre of residents in Kaiama Local Government Area, an incident that has drawn widespread national and international condemnation.
At least 75 people were confirmed killed in the attack on Woro and Nuku communities, with local accounts putting the death toll even higher. The killings have reignited concerns over Nigeria’s worsening security situation, particularly in rural communities vulnerable to extremist violence.
The emergency meeting came amid mounting pressure from lawmakers, international bodies and civil society groups demanding decisive federal intervention, improved intelligence gathering and a major overhaul of the country’s security architecture.
UN, Türkiye, lawmakers condemn killings
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a terrorist act. In a post on X, he expressed condolences to the victims’ families and the Nigerian government, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
Türkiye also condemned the massacre, calling it heinous and reaffirming its support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
Within Nigeria, outrage cut across political and regional lines. The Northern Senators Forum urged the Federal Government to immediately recruit more security personnel and strengthen operational capacity nationwide, warning that unchecked violence now poses a grave threat to national stability.
The forum’s chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, said recent attacks in Kwara, Katsina and Benue states had left more than 130 people dead, describing the killings as “senseless acts of violence” that underscore the depth of the country’s insecurity crisis.
IGP deploys tactical teams, orders manhunt
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the immediate deployment of tactical, operational and intelligence assets to Kaiama and surrounding communities.
Confirming the death toll at 75, police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin said an intensive manhunt had been launched for the attackers and their collaborators.
“All available resources have been mobilised to ensure that those responsible are identified, apprehended and brought to justice,” Hundeyin said, urging residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies.
Tinubu orders battalion deployment
Governor AbdulRazaq, who briefed journalists after his closed-door meeting with the President, said Tinubu had ordered the deployment of an army battalion under Operation Savannah Shield and approved the creation of a new military command to secure the area.
According to the governor, the President described the attack as cowardly and inhumane, particularly because victims were targeted for rejecting extremist ideology.
“I am confident because the commander of Operation Savannah Shield has reported in Kwara and is hitting the ground running,” AbdulRazaq said, adding that troops would flood the area within weeks.
The governor also directed the Kwara State Emergency Management Agency to immediately mobilise relief and support for affected families.
National Assembly, governors raise alarm
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, condemned the killings in Kwara and Benue, calling on security agencies to rise to their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.
Similarly, Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, described the attacks as barbaric and unacceptable, urging intensified intelligence-led operations to bring perpetrators to justice.
He stressed that the protection of citizens remains a “sacred duty” of the state.
Opposition blames government for inaction
The Peoples Democratic Party accused the Federal Government of ignoring early warnings, describing the military deployment as “reactive.”
In a statement, the party demanded an independent investigation and a national security summit, arguing that proactive measures could have prevented the tragedy.
Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, also described the killings as a national disaster, urging President Tinubu to personally lead efforts to prevent insurgency from taking root in Kwara.
Traditional ruler freed amid ransom claims
In a related development, the Oniwo of Afin, Oba Simeon Olanipekun, regained freedom after spending about one month in captivity. A family source said an additional ₦12 million ransom was paid, though the police denied knowledge of any payment.
The monarch is currently receiving medical care after suffering physical and psychological trauma during his ordeal.