Nigeria: At least 162 killed in armed attack in the country’s central-west

Wednesday 04 - 14:30

By: Sahili Aya

Nigeria: At least 162 killed in armed attack in the country’s central-west

At least 162 people have lost their lives following a deadly attack carried out by armed men in Woro, a village located in Nigeria’s central-western state of Kwara, according to information released by humanitarian sources. The incident ranks among the deadliest episodes of violence recorded in the country in recent months.

Initial reports had indicated a significantly lower death toll, but the figure rose as rescue teams continued search operations in the affected area. Local relief organizations confirmed that efforts to recover additional victims are still underway.

Kwara State has been increasingly affected by complex security challenges. Armed groups, often referred to locally as bandits, have intensified attacks on rural communities, engaging in looting, kidnappings, and violent assaults. At the same time, concerns are growing over the expansion of extremist networks operating in parts of the region.

In response to the deteriorating situation, state authorities introduced curfews in several districts and temporarily shut down schools as a precautionary measure. Educational institutions have since reopened under reinforced security arrangements.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq condemned the attack, describing it as a desperate act by armed groups facing sustained pressure from ongoing security operations. Nigerian military forces recently announced operations against suspected militants hiding in forested areas of the state.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and a major oil producer, has struggled for more than a decade with insurgency in the northeast, alongside widespread criminal violence in the northwest and central regions. The persistence of insecurity has prompted the federal government to strengthen military deployments and expand international cooperation, particularly with the United States, to combat armed groups and extremist threats.