At least 35 people were killed in a deadly gunmen attack in Kwara State in the mid-western region of Nigeria, with authorities fearing the death toll could rise further.
The attack took place on Tuesday evening around 6 p.m. when armed men stormed Woro village in Kwara State. According to local sources, the assailants set fire to shops and the palace of the traditional ruler before opening indiscriminate fire on residents.
Syed Baba Ahmed, a local lawmaker representing the Kaima region, said around 35 bodies were recovered on Wednesday morning. He added that several people who sustained gunshot injuries fled into nearby forests to escape the violence, raising concerns that more bodies may yet be found. The whereabouts of the village’s traditional ruler remained unknown.
Police authorities confirmed that an attack had taken place but did not disclose official casualty figures. Security forces have since been deployed to the area, and search operations are under way.
The Kwara State government blamed terrorist groups for the violence, stating that the attack appeared to be a retaliatory act against intensified counter-terrorism operations in the region.
Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a cowardly act. He said terrorist groups carried out the attack out of frustration over sustained security action by the government and assured that those responsible would be brought to justice.
The incident has heightened fears over worsening security conditions in parts of Nigeria, where attacks by armed groups have continued to claim civilian lives.
