Banditry: Gov Abdulrazaq Confirms Troops’ Deployment To Kwara

Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has visited the Woro community, where terrorists killed scores of people for refusing to be indoctrinated by the extremist group, Mamuda.

The governor, who was accompanied by security chiefs, described the attack as genocide, assuring that the attackers and criminals within the two states would be flushed out within a month.

At the Palace of the Emir of Kaiama, Muazu Omar, the governor confirmed the deployment of troops to the Kaiama area of the state.

Abdulrazaq explained that the battalion of soldiers, known as Operation Savannah Shield, is expected to flush out attackers in Kaiama and the National Park in Niger State.

“President Tinubu expressed rage that the attackers killed the community members who rejected their obnoxious attempt at indoctrination,” a presidential statement said. ‎ ‎Earlier, the Emir of Kaiama, who was nearly moved to tears, said 75 villagers in Woro were massacred due to their refusal to be brainwashed and indoctrinated by the bandits, who were preaching un-Islamic teachings to them.

The member representing Gwanabe/Gweria/Bani/Adena in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Ahmed Baba, gave an initial toll of 35-40 dead but said more bodies would be found as many wounded people had fled into the bush.

READ ALSO: 40 Feared Dead As Gunmen Attack Kwara Communities

Gunmen had attacked Woro and Nuku on Tuesday, leaving dozens dead.

The refusal of the villagers was said to have led to indiscriminate shooting.  Two vehicles belonging to the village head were used by the bandits to transport many villagers who were abducted.

Many families were said to have lost their loved ones in the attack, while the hoodlums burned several houses. ‎ Soldiers and forest guards were later deployed to the communities to forestall further attacks.

In response to the latest security woes, Kwara state imposed curfews in certain areas and closed schools for several weeks before ordering them to reopen on Monday.

The Nigerian military has intensified operations against jihadists and armed bandits. Last month, the military said it had launched “sustained coordinated offensive operations against terrorist elements” in Kwara state.