Umar Salihu, the head of Woro village in Kwara State, has revealed that security forces took nearly 10 hours to respond to distress calls during a terrorist attack that claimed scores of lives and left the community in ruins.
In an interview on ARISE News yesterday, Salihu said the assault began around 5 p.m., but soldiers only arrived at approximately 3 a.m. the following morning, by which time the attackers had fled and significant damage had been done.
He also raised concerns that sensitive intelligence may have been leaked, noting that he had reported a threat letter to security agencies prior to the attack.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) responded by stating that troops were deployed promptly upon receiving information about the attack and had been conducting patrols and surveillance in the area for about two weeks. The DHQ expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives in what it described as cowardly terrorist attacks on Woro and surrounding communities in Kaiama Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Federal Government of failing to act on security warnings before the deadly assault, calling the incident a troubling sign of deteriorating security across Nigeria.
“They Had Already Gone When Soldiers Arrived”
Salihu explained that despite making distress calls shortly after the attack began, help did not arrive for about 10 hours. “I called about 5 p.m., but they did not come until about 3 a.m.,” he said.
By the time the military reached the village, the attackers had vanished. “The military did not attack them. The bandits had gone when the military came,” Salihu stated. He also confirmed that no air support was provided during the assault. “The plane did not engage them. They did not interdict. They did not drop any munition on them.”
The village head disclosed that the community had been left vulnerable after soldiers previously stationed there were withdrawn following an earlier attack. “Initially, we had a military base there with about 15 soldiers. About three to five months ago, they attacked the soldiers. Since then, they evacuated them. We have no security presence in that area. That gave them the opportunity to come anytime and do whatever they like.”
Attack Linked to Rejection of Extremist Ideology
Salihu confirmed that the attackers belonged to the Mamuda terrorist group and said the violence followed the community’s refusal to accept their ideology. “Our people are not ready to take that ideology. I think that is what made them angry to come and attack the communities.”
He clarified that the victims were predominantly Muslims, dismissing suggestions of religious conflict. “The people they killed are mostly Muslims. About 95 percent are Muslims and five percent are Christians.”
Possible Intelligence Breach
The village head revealed that he had forwarded a threat letter to the Department of State Security (DSS) in Kaiama and the Emirate Council. “When they brought the letter, they brought it directly to me. That night, I sent it to the DSS. The following day, I took the letter myself to the Emirate Council. They photocopied it. In that process, I think they lost the appropriate contact.”
Salihu suggested that the terrorists may have been alerted when security agents went on patrol after receiving the letter. “When the security agents went on patrol after the letter, the terrorists became angry.”
Death Toll and Destruction
Salihu reported that at least 75 bodies had been buried, with more still being recovered from the bush. “As of yesterday, we buried 75 people. But as I’m speaking with you, there are still corpses in the bush. They burnt almost half of the villages, including my house.”
He confirmed that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited the affected communities and ordered immediate security deployment. “The governor came to Kaiama. He saw the destruction. Immediately, they took action. About 15 soldiers were deployed, and there are now about 80 security agents there.”
Defence Headquarters Responds
Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, said in a statement yesterday that troops were promptly deployed to the area with robust patrols and surveillance measures for about two weeks.
“It will be recalled that terrorists entered Woro village with a request to conduct a preaching and indoctrination session which was outrightly rejected by the villagers. The military was informed and promptly troops were despatched to dominate the general areas. The cowardly terrorists, however, returned weeks after to kill innocent citizens in protest and in a bid to terrorise inhabitants.”
The DHQ urged Nigerians to remain steadfast and resist ideological indoctrination by violent extremist groups.
A military source noted that the deployment prevented further attacks. “Thank God troops arrived otherwise there would have been a second round of killings. Getting to the location by day time takes over four hours because of the difficult terrain. At night, it will be slower coupled with IEDs planted by the terrorists which we had to clear.”
IGP Deploys Tactical Assets
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the deployment of tactical, operational, and intelligence assets to Kaiama and surrounding communities. Force spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin said investigations are underway and all resources have been mobilised to apprehend those responsible.
PDP Criticises Government Response
The PDP faction led by Tanimu Turaki accused the Federal Government of ignoring security warnings. National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong said: “Several community leaders have stated that the notice of this impending attack was available for months, without any meaningful proactive action from the government. The Presidency is paying more attention to politics than to the execution of the primary mandate of government.”
Calls for Decisive Action
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan called the killings unacceptable and urged authorities to implement coordinated security measures. Former presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso warned that terrorists must not be treated lightly. Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan commended President Tinubu’s deployment of an Army Battalion to the area.
Aare-Ona-Kakanfo Gani Adams reiterated calls for state police, arguing that such a force could have prevented the tragedy through better intelligence gathering and rapid response.
Tinubu Vows Justice
President Bola Tinubu, after meeting with Governor AbdulRazaq, condemned the attack and vowed that those responsible will face justice. In a personally signed statement, he said: “Nigeria will never surrender its people to extremism and terrorism masquerading as faith. It is particularly disturbing that the victims were killed because they rejected an attempt at forced indoctrination.”
The President directed the immediate deployment of an Army Battalion to spearhead Operation Savannah Shield and ordered close collaboration between federal and state agencies to support affected communities and pursue the perpetrators.
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