Police Give Account of Kwara Killings, Confirm Ongoing Manhunt

The Kwara State Police Command has shed more light on the response of security agencies to the violent attacks in parts of Kwara North that claimed no fewer than 75 lives, stating that calm has returned to the affected areas while efforts to track down those responsible continue.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said security operatives were swiftly deployed to the communities immediately the incident was reported, acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo.

Ejire-Adeyemi made the disclosure on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where she explained that although the affected communities, Woro and Nuku, are located about two hours away from Kaiama Local Government Area, the police responded without delay.

She noted that officers worked in collaboration with the military and the National Forest Guard to address the situation promptly.

According to the police spokesperson, investigations have since commenced, following intelligence reports suggesting that the attackers may have gained access to the communities days before launching the assault.

“We are looking into information indicating that the attackers possibly infiltrated the communities earlier and remained there before carrying out the attack,” she said.

Describing the incident as heartbreaking, Ejire-Adeyemi assured residents that security agencies are intensifying efforts to prevent further violence.

She added that clearance and combing operations are ongoing across parts of Kwara State as well as neighbouring Kogi State, with the aim of dismantling criminal hideouts and restoring sustained peace.

The spokesperson further disclosed that additional security reinforcements had been approved by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to strengthen surveillance and response in the area.

The attack occurred at about 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday when armed men stormed Woro community and nearby Nuku village, killing dozens of residents. Shops were razed, the home of a traditional ruler was set ablaze, and many villagers fled into surrounding bushes to escape the violence.

The killings triggered widespread condemnation across the country, with the Northern States Governors’ Forum denouncing the attacks in Kwara, Katsina, and Benue states as brutal and inhumane.

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, also condemned the incident, describing it as a massacre and confirming that the victims had been laid to rest.

In response, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the deployment of an army battalion to Kwara State to bolster ongoing security operations and forestall further attacks.

Ejire-Adeyemi said that while normalcy is gradually returning to the affected communities, security agencies remain resolute in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

“The area is presently calm, but the operation to arrest those behind the attack is ongoing,” she said.