By Gbenga Sodeinde
As evening shadows stretched across Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday, an uneasy calm hung over Woro and Nuku communities. Moments later, that calm was violently shattered.
At about 6:00pm, suspected bandits reportedly slipped into Woro and launched a sudden, coordinated attack. Gunshots rang out without warning, slicing through the twilight. Almost immediately, fires broke out as houses were set ablaze, turning the fading light into a glow of flames and fear.
Residents ran in panic—into bushes, into the darkness, anywhere that promised safety. Within minutes, the communities were emptied of normal life, replaced by chaos, confusion, and terror.
For hours, little was known of the true cost.
When calm finally returned, the silence told its own story. Bodies were discovered, families were thrown into mourning, and homes that once held memories stood in ruins. Properties worth millions of naira had been destroyed, leaving many survivors staring at ashes where their lives once stood.
A community leader, who requested anonymity, said at least 10 villagers were killed in the attack. He disclosed that the gunmen were believed to have infiltrated the area through forest paths linked to the Borgu axis of neighbouring Niger State, near the National Park.
“They came suddenly and in large numbers. There was no warning. People were killed, houses were burnt, and now fear is everywhere,” the source said.
The Kwara State Government later confirmed the attack. In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq strongly condemned the violence, describing it as a cowardly act.
The governor said he was deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives in Woro and Nuku, noting that the assault appeared to be a desperate response by criminal elements facing sustained pressure from security operations across the state.
“This is a cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells following ongoing counterterrorism campaigns and the successes already recorded,” AbdulRazaq said.
He added that the attack was likely aimed at diverting attention from recent gains made by security agencies against banditry and kidnapping.
As condolences were extended to the bereaved families, fear continued to grip Kaiama. Many residents remain displaced, uncertain of when it will be safe to return, while calls grow louder for an urgent reinforcement of security to prevent another night when darkness brings terror.