75 Confirmed Dead as Kwara Governor Reveals Villagers Were Massacred for Defying Terrorist Demands

A chilling picture of bravery and tragedy is emerging from the remote western borders of Kwara State. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has revealed that the brutal massacre in the Kaiama Local Government Area which has left scores dead was a “punitive strike” against villagers who dared to stand up to extremist cells.

While early reports estimated a lower death toll, the scale of the horror in the villages of Woro and Nuku is now coming into full focus. According to the Governor and local lawmakers, at least 75 bodies have been identified so far, though some rights groups fear the final count could exceed 160. Many of the victims were found with their hands bound, suggesting they were executed after a failed attempt to protect their homes.

The killers are believed to be members of the Lakurawa, an ISIS-affiliated group that has been drifting across the border from Niger. For five months, these extremists reportedly sent “warning letters” to the communities, demanding taxes, food, and total submission. The residents of Woro and Nuku, however, chose to resist, a decision that led to Tuesday’s “dusk raid” of fire and blood.

“This was a cowardly act of frustration,” Governor AbdulRazaq said in a somber address. “These terrorist cells are losing ground due to ongoing military operations, and they are now lashing out at innocent civilians who refuse to cooperate with their evil agenda.”

The logistics of the rescue mission have been a nightmare. Located near the border with the Benin Republic, the affected villages are an eight-hour trek from the state capital. The Red Cross and state emergency teams are only just beginning to reach the “ground zero” of the attack to provide aid to the survivors who fled into the bushes.

As the nation mourns, the federal government has come under renewed pressure to secure the “porous” western borders. With U.S. military advisors now reportedly on the ground to assist with intelligence, the people of Kwara are waiting to see if this sacrifice of 75 lives will finally trigger a permanent security presence in their forgotten corners.