Survivors speak: Inside the deadly Woro attacks in Kwara

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin –

The Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State were thrown into chaos on Tuesday following a deadly attack that left dozens dead, many injured, and several villagers abducted. The horrific incident has dominated discussions across the state, prompting both the presidency and the Kwara government to mobilise swiftly to restore normalcy.

Residents have begun retrieving bodies from surrounding bushes for mass burials, with over a hundred victims reportedly laid to rest. Those wounded were rushed to the state capital for urgent medical attention, with some admitted to the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital in Ilorin, where our correspondent spoke with several survivors.

One victim recounted that the attackers initially sought permission to enter the village under the guise of preaching. The village head denied them access, unaware of their deadly intent. Many of the villagers targeted were long-time residents, primarily farmers from states such as Jos, Plateau, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Kaduna.

“I narrowly escaped death. I was on a bike approaching my house when three of them on bikes stopped me. One shot me in the thigh to test if the bullet would penetrate. They left me bleeding, and I was later rescued and brought to Ilorin for treatment,” a young man said. He added that his surgical operation had been delayed due to blood donation shortages, with only one pint administered so far.

Joshua Deme, another survivor, described the terrifying scene. “While I was in town buying detergent, I heard sporadic gunfire. The attackers surrounded the village, with young ones shooting and older ones burning houses. The one who shot me was not more than 15 years old. Those trying to escape were pursued on motorbikes and gunned down in the bush. I am lucky my wife and children escaped; they are on their way to Jos,” he said.

Usman Bangoro, a miner from Tambuwal in Sokoto State, also survived narrowly. “I was washing minerals when gunfire erupted. They wore army uniforms, but they were not soldiers. Bullets pierced my right thigh, breaking the bone. I’ve lived in this community for over ten years, and it is only by God’s grace that I survived,” he narrated.

A caregiver for some of the victims explained that of the five taken to Ilorin, two required thigh surgeries, while six others were moved to Kainji General Hospital. “All attackers came armed. Anyone running inside their homes was burnt along with the house. Many bodies are still being recovered from the bush,” he said.

The attack coincided with a wedding and youth activities, including a football match, which contributed to the high casualty rate. The bandits also abducted 75 people, including women and children, and planted a bomb on the Kaiama road that destroyed a trailer carrying soya beans.

Survivors have called for decisive government action, suggesting that clearing forests could prevent bandits from using the terrain as a hideout.

“The way our attackers behaved showed they neither feared God nor believed they would die,” one villager said. “We have lived peacefully for years until Tuesday’s attack.”