Kwara Attack: Terrorists sent a letter 5 months before  attack.

Terrorists attack Kwara community, kill many, abduct women, children

As of Wednesday evening, the death toll continued to rise, with search teams still recovering bodies.

An unknown number of people have been killed in Woro, a remote community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, following an hours-long attack by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

A Kwara State government official confirmed that 75 people had been killed. However, residents insist the casualty figure may be far higher.

The attack came weeks after the armed group reportedly sent a letter to the district head of Woro, Salihu Umar, informing him of plans to visit the community for preaching, according to residents and local leaders who spoke with *Premium Times*.

Woro is located on the fringes of Kainji National Park, a vast forest reserve that has increasingly served as a hideout for armed groups, including Boko Haram and Ansaru, locally known as Mamuda.

While Ansaru has operated in the area since around 2020, Boko Haram fighters reportedly moved into the forest in July last year.

Residents spoke to *Premium Times* from hiding as the attack unfolded.

A night of terror

The assault began around 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday and continued into the early hours of Wednesday. Residents said the attackers stormed the village, opened fire, set houses ablaze, and abducted an unspecified number of women and children.

Reuters earlier quoted a local politician, Sa’idu Ahmed, who estimated the death toll at 40, noting that more bodies were likely to be found.

By Wednesday evening, a resident told Premium Times that a search and rescue team, escorted by soldiers and forest guards, counted at least 170 bodies.

“They counted 170 this afternoon,” the resident said, requesting anonymity for security reasons.

The claim could not be independently verified.

Among those killed was Salihu Ibrahim, a former students’ union leader at the Kwara State College of Nursing, Ilorin.

Homes razed, district head missing

Another resident said the attackers razed houses and shops, including the palace of the district head.

The district head remains missing.

“They stole his Jeep and used it to transport some of the abducted victims into the forest,” the resident said.

Many villagers were still hiding in nearby bushes as of Wednesday, he added.

Authorities silent, military mobilised

The Kwara State Police spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, did not respond to enquiries from *Premium Times*. Army spokesperson Appolonia Anele also did not respond.

However, Al Jazeera reported that police authorities confirmed the attack and said military operatives had been deployed, without providing casualty figures.

Letter before the massacre

A community leader in Kaiama said the attackers had written to the district head months earlier, stating their intention to come and preach.

The letter was forwarded to the Kwara State Emirate Council in Ilorin, which requested military deployment. Soldiers were reportedly sent but later withdrew after no immediate attack occurred.

The fighters later moved to Baburasa, a neighbouring community, where they reportedly preached weeks before the Woro attack.

The community leader believes Woro was attacked because authorities were alerted.
A widening threat

The Woro attack occurred barely a month after Boko Haram fighters under the command of Mallam Sadiku attacked Kasuwan Daji in Niger State, killing over 30 people and abducting women and children.

The same faction was responsible for the abduction of more than 300 students from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State.

Sources told *Premium Times* that the group relocated due to sustained military bombardment and internal conflict with bandit leader Dogo Gide.