Survivors of a brutal overnight attack on rural communities in Kwara State have shared chilling accounts of how armed militants turned a request to preach into a devastating massacre that wiped out families and left entire villages in ruins.
Residents say the attackers first sent letters asking permission to spread what they described as their version of Islam — a request the communities rejected.
“They sent a letter asking to preach. Then they massacred us,” one survivor said, recalling how locals refused to accept extremist teachings they believed contradicted their faith.
Traditional Ruler’s Family Targeted
According to eyewitnesses, the attackers headed straight for the residence of the traditional ruler, Umar Bio Salihu. Although Salihu was not at home during the attack, his family members were.
“Two of the community head’s children, who were medical students, were killed in front of the house before they set it ablaze,” a resident, Usman, revealed.
Confirming the tragedy, Salihu said the militants killed two of his children and abducted his wife and three others.
“They killed two of my children and abducted my wife and three children,” he said.
All-Night Killing Spree Leaves Villages Devastated
The violence reportedly lasted throughout the night, with residents describing a systematic and merciless assault.
“They massacred everyone. It is just devastating,” said Mohammed Dauda, a local government official.
Amnesty International later reported that many victims were found with their hands and feet tied, some with their throats slit, while others were shot dead.
Militants Tried to Impose Their Rule
Survivors said the attackers demanded residents renounce the Nigerian government and its constitution, insisting they submit to the militants’ ideology.
Salihu rejected the demand, describing it as incompatible with Islam.
“This is against what the Quran teaches,” he said.
Isa Sanusi, Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, revealed that the communities had been receiving pamphlets and warnings long before the attack.
“After they saw resistance from the people, they began sending threats,” Sanusi explained.
Security Lapse Sparks Anger
Local lawmaker Saidu Baba Ahmed disclosed that Salihu had alerted security agencies after receiving a final warning letter. Although security forces reportedly visited the area briefly, they later withdrew — a move residents believe exposed the villages to the deadly assault.
Sanusi condemned the lapse:
“We are wondering why this security failure was allowed to happen. They even went to the mosque and prayed there. That means they had enough time to do whatever they wanted.”
Bodies Buried, Communities Abandoned
As calm returned, residents and soldiers began burying the dead.
“I was among those who buried 30 corpses,” Dauda said. “We have never experienced this before in Kaiama Local Government Area.”
A 79-year-old survivor told reporters that his wife and four children were abducted. Markets remain deserted, roads are empty, and fear hangs heavily over the affected villages.
“They knew exactly where the vigilantes lived,” Salihu added. “They burned them into ashes — about eight of them.”
Troops Deployed After Outrage
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate deployment of an army battalion to respond to the attack.
Residents believe the militants emerged from forested areas near Kainji Lake National Park, a region long suspected to harbor armed groups.
As survivors mourn their losses, calls for accountability and improved security continue to grow, with many questioning how repeated warnings were ignored until tragedy struck.
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