At least 170 people were reportedly killed in Woro, a remote community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, following a prolonged attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters.
According to PREMIUM TIMES, the incident occurred several months after the group allegedly alerted traditional authorities of its intention to enter the community and preach through a letter. Residents and local leaders said the militants had earlier communicated their plans under the guise of religious preaching.
Woro is situated on the outskirts of Kainji National Park, a vast forest reserve that has increasingly served as a refuge for armed groups. The area has in recent years witnessed the presence of extremist factions, including Boko Haram and Ansaru, also known locally as Mamuda.
While Ansaru is believed to have been operating in the region since about 2020, Boko Haram elements reportedly relocated to the forest area in July of last year, according to credible accounts.
To reconstruct events surrounding the attack, a reporter spoke with several residents of Woro as well as a community leader in Kaiama. One local leader, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorisation to speak publicly, confirmed that a letter had been sent to the district head of Woro approximately five months before the incident.
According to the source, the correspondence indicated the group’s intention to visit the community to preach. The district head was said to have forwarded the letter to the Kwara State Emirate Council in Ilorin, which subsequently sought military intervention.
Security personnel were reportedly deployed to Woro but later withdrew after several weeks when no immediate threat materialised. Following their departure, the armed group was said to have relocated to Baburasa, a neighbouring settlement roughly 20 kilometres away.
“They went to Baburasa and preached to the people there about three weeks ago,” the community leader said. “They even mentioned communities they planned to attack, but they did not mention Woro.”
He suggested the omission may have been deliberate.
The leader believes the group attacked Woro because of the district head alerted authorities after receiving the letter.
“As of now, we do not know the whereabouts of the district head,” he said.
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