Nigeria has decided to expand its military footprint in Kwara State after a brutal assault on two rural communities left more than 160 people dead, even as authorities confirmed the release of dozens of Christians abducted in separate church attacks last month.
Officials said gunmen stormed the Muslim-majority villages of Woro and Nuku on Tuesday, killing at least 162 residents. Many of the victims were reportedly targeted for resisting extremist beliefs. The scale of the violence places it among the deadliest mass killings recorded outside Nigeria’s long-established conflict zones.
Homes were set ablaze and shops emptied during the raid, which Amnesty International’s Nigeria office described as “a stunning security failure.” No group has formally claimed responsibility, but residents and local authorities suspect Islamic militant factions operating in the wider region.
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In a statement, the Nigerian presidency said the attackers punished villagers for rejecting “their obnoxious attempt at indoctrination, choosing instead to practice Islam that is neither extreme nor violent.”
Security analysts warn that Kwara is emerging as a new battleground. The state has seen a surge in killings and kidnappings, drawing armed groups seeking fresh territory.
James Barnett, a researcher at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, said in an AP report that militant groups are being squeezed out of their traditional strongholds. As competition intensifies, he noted, they are pushing into previously quieter areas.
State officials believe the violence may have been triggered by recent counterterrorism operations. Kwara State Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said the attack was likely retaliation for security raids enabled in part by intelligence from local communities. Such attacks, analysts say, can also be intended to frighten neighboring villages into submission.
In response, President Bola Tinubu’s office announced late Wednesday that a Nigerian army battalion will be deployed to the Kaiama area, where the killings occurred. Until now, the locality has had minimal security coverage.
“President Tinubu said the new military command will spearhead Operation Savannah Shield to checkmate the barbaric terrorists and protect defenseless communities,” the statement read.
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While Kwara reeled from the violence, authorities in Kaduna State confirmed the release of all 183 people abducted during coordinated church attacks last month. Gov. Uba Sani said 89 of the captives were freed on Wednesday, though he did not explain how the operation was carried out. Analysts note that ransom payments are sometimes involved in such cases.
Initial estimates from residents and advocacy groups had placed the number of abducted worshippers at 168.
“Following this incident, I approached the president and the national security adviser on the need to establish a military base … particularly around the Regina general area, which has long been identified as a flashpoint,” Sani said during a speech.
The latest violence has again drawn international attention to Nigeria’s security crisis. U.S. President Donald Trump has previously alleged, without evidence, that Christians are the primary targets of attacks in the country. Analysts counter that while Christians are frequently affected, most victims of armed groups in northern Nigeria are Muslims.
Despite earlier diplomatic tensions, the U.S. administration has since carried out airstrikes against Islamic militant targets as part of broader security cooperation with Nigeria. A small contingent of American military officers is also deployed in the country.
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