U.S. Condemns Deadly Kwara Attack, Backs Tinubu’s Security Deployment

The United States has strongly condemned the deadly attack in Kwara State, Nigeria, which left more than 160 people dead, with several others still missing, describing the incident as a senseless act of violence against innocent civilians.

In a statement released on Thursday, the U.S. expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims and communities affected by the massacre, noting that the exact death toll remains unconfirmed as search and recovery efforts continue in the affected villages. The United States condemns the horrific attack in Kwara State which claimed the lives of more than 160 people. We express our deepest sympathies to the families of those affected by this senseless violence,” the statement said The attack, which occurred in rural communities in Kaiama Local Government Area, involved heavily armed assailants who reportedly stormed villages, killing residents, setting homes ablaze and forcing many others to flee. Local authorities and humanitarian workers say many residents are still unaccounted for, raising fears that the casualty figure could rise further. The U.S. welcomed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for the immediate deployment of security forces to protect vulnerable communities in the area and prevent further attacks. Washington also commended the President’s order to federal and state authorities to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced residents and ensure those responsible for the attack are brought to justice. We welcome President Tinubu’s order to deploy security forces to protect villages in the area and his directive to federal and state officials to provide aid to the affected communities and hold the perpetrators accountable,” the statement added. Following the attack, President Tinubu condemned the killings, describing them as barbaric and unacceptable, and vowed that the federal government would not allow criminal and extremist elements to terrorise citizens. Additional military and security personnel have since been deployed to Kwara State as part of ongoing counter-terrorism and stabilization operations. The incident has sparked widespread outrage across Nigeria, with civil society groups, traditional leaders and political figures calling for improved intelligence gathering, sustained security presence and justice for victims. It has also drawn international attention amid growing concerns over the spread of violent extremism and armed criminality into parts of Nigeria previously considered relatively stable.