'They sent a letter asking to preach. Then they massacred us' - Nigerians on jihadist attack

Armed jihadists attacked the Muslim villages of Woro and Nuku in Nigeria's Kwara state on Tuesday, killing at least 75 people. The attackers, dressed in army fatigues, arrived on motorbikes and targeted the home of a traditional leader who had refused their request to preach their extremist version of Islam in the community. They killed two of his children, burned his compound, and then proceeded to massacre residents, tying up victims and slitting their throats or shooting them. Before leaving, the militants abducted 38 women and children, including the traditional ruler's wife and remaining children. The attackers aimed to force residents to reject the Nigerian government and adopt their extremist teachings. The Nigerian government has blamed Boko Haram for the attack.

A massacre in the Muslim-majority village of Woro, Nigeria, on Tuesday resulted in at least 162 deaths, according to the Red Cross. Alleged jihadist gunmen attacked the village after sending a letter announcing their arrival to preach, and then going on a rampage when no one attended. The attackers killed residents and set houses on fire, with some people burned inside. Chief Umar Bio Salihu, a village leader, reported that the gunmen killed two of his sons and kidnapped his wife and three daughters. The Nigerian military has arrived at the scene, and the search for bodies is ongoing.

In Nigeria, suspected jihadist fighters killed 170 people in attacks on the villages of Woro and Nuku in Kwara state on Tuesday night. The attackers, believed to be jihadists attempting to impose extremist rule, shot residents, burned homes, and looted shops after villagers refused to abandon the Nigerian state and adopt sharia law. President Bola Tinubu condemned the attacks and announced the deployment of a Nigerian army battalion to Kaiama, the affected local government area, to spearhead "Operation Savannah Shield" and protect communities. The violence is the latest in a series of attacks by jihadists and armed groups in Nigeria, particularly in the north and increasingly in regions bordering Niger. The military believes one group, Islamic State Sahel Province, became more active in Nigeria after the 2023 coup in Niger.

At least 167 people have been killed in a recent attack on two villages in central Nigeria's Kwara state, according to the Nigerian branch of the Red Cross. The gunmen stormed the rural community, killing dozens and setting homes on fire. The attack occurred in the villages of Woro and Nuku, with no group claiming responsibility for the assault. The particulars of the attack are still being investigated by officials, aid workers, and residents. Nigeria has been under scrutiny over recent killings of Christians, with some analysts suggesting the gunmen may be members of Boko Haram, a terrorist group destabilizing the country's northeast. Security agencies are gathering information to confirm the death toll and extent of the damage.

Armed men killed at least 35 people and burned homes and shops in Woro, a remote village in Nigeria's Kwara State on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. The attack, confirmed by police, occurred in the Kaiama region bordering Niger State, an area increasingly targeted by armed gangs. According to a local lawmaker, many villagers escaped into the bush with gunshot wounds, and more bodies may be discovered. The state government attributed the attack to "terrorist cells," reflecting a surge in banditry and armed attacks on rural communities in north-central Nigeria, where gangs raid villages, kidnap residents, and steal livestock.