Africa-Press. The death toll from an armed attack on the village of Woru in Kwara State in west-central Nigeria has risen to 162, according to the Red Cross on Wednesday.
The assault ranks among the deadliest attacks in the country in recent months, amid a surge in activity by gangs and armed groups that have expanded their reach from the northwest toward southern regions.
Deadly toll and ongoing search
Babaumo Ayodiji, secretary of the Red Cross in Kwara State, said the number of fatalities has now reached 162, as searches continue for additional bodies in the area, after an initial toll of 67 deaths.
Meanwhile, Saidu Baba Ahmed, a member of the local parliament, said villagers fled into surrounding bushland when the attackers struck late Tuesday evening. He confirmed that the assailants set fire to homes and shops, including the residence of the village chief, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Ahmed added that a large number of people are still missing, raising fears that the death toll could rise further as rugged areas are searched.
Security crisis
Kwara State is facing a multifaceted security crisis, with armed gangs carrying out village raids and kidnappings for ransom, alongside the threat posed by armed groups seeking to expand their influence.
State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described the attack as a “cowardly expression of frustration” by what he called “terrorist cells,” in response to counterterrorism operations and recent successes by the Nigerian military. He said security forces had recently “neutralized” 150 “terrorists” in the state’s forests, identifying them as members of criminal gangs.
In an effort to curb insecurity, local authorities imposed curfews in specific areas of the state and closed schools for several weeks, before ordering their reopening earlier this week.
These developments come amid increased targeting by armed groups of border areas between Kwara and Niger states, a region that has recorded the highest number of casualties since the beginning of the year.
