The heavy scent of smoke and profound loss lingers over the ruins of Woro, a once-vibrant community in Kwara State. Following a brutal assault on February 3, 2026, residents are returning to a ghost town defined by charred shops, empty streets, and the weight of unburied grief.
A Night of Unspeakable Horror
The violence erupted on a Tuesday evening when armed militants, allegedly linked to extremist groups like ISIL or the Lakurawa, stormed Woro and the neighboring village of Nuku. The massacre was reportedly a "punishment" for the community’s refusal to allow the group to preach their extremist ideology.
Execution-Style Killings: Survivors describe gunmen rounding up residents, binding their hands, and executing them.
Arson as a Weapon: Many victims, including children, were trapped inside barricaded shops and homes before being set ablaze.
The Aftermath: In a single mass grave at the village cemetery, 120 people were laid to rest because the survivors lacked the resources for individual burials.
"They set them on fire... but we did them no wrong," whispered Umaru Tanko, a survivor standing near the blackened shell of his friend’s shop.
A Community Displaced
Before the attack, Woro was home to approximately 17,000 people. Today, fewer than 200 residents remain. The streets, once filled with livestock and traders, are now hauntingly quiet, save for the presence of armored personnel carriers and security patrols.
Beyond the fatalities, the anguish continues for families whose women and children were abducted during the raid. Their current whereabouts remain a painful mystery.
Government and Military Response
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has labeled the massacre a "beastly attack," ordering security forces to hunt down the perpetrators. The Nigerian Army has since launched Operation Savannah Shield to stabilize the region.
Brigadier General Nicholas Rume, commanding the 22nd Brigade, noted that militants have attempted to return to Woro three times since the initial massacre, though they were repelled by the heavy military presence now guarding the ruins.
Source: Aljazeera.com
