Kwankwaso Warns FG: Don't Underestimate Terror Spread After Kwara Bloodbath

 

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State and national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has strongly condemned the recent massacre in Kwara State, describing it as a barbaric act of terrorism and warning that the Federal Government must treat the escalating threat with utmost seriousness.

In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts on Wednesday, Kwankwaso expressed deep sorrow over the reported killing of at least 162 innocent lives in the communities of Woro and Nuku, Kaiama Local Government Area.

“I am deeply saddened and horrified by the reported massacre of at least 162 innocent lives in the communities of Woro and Nuku in Kwara State,” Kwankwaso stated. “This barbaric attack is condemnable in the strongest terms. It was carried out by terrorist elements that must not be tolerated or allowed to fester in any part of our nation.”

He emphasized that the incident demonstrates the dangerous expansion of violent groups into regions previously considered peaceful and secure. “As I have consistently warned, the Federal Government cannot afford to treat these developments lightly,” he added, calling for decisive, coordinated national action to prevent further loss of life.

The attack, which occurred late Tuesday, has been described by residents and reports as carried out by jihadist militants (linked by some sources to groups like Lakurawa or extremists demanding allegiance to Sharia over the Nigerian state). Victims were reportedly targeted for refusing to renounce ties to the state or adopt extremist doctrines.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq confirmed casualties (initially stating 75, with mass burials underway) and described the assault as a “cowardly act” by frustrated terrorist cells amid ongoing counterterrorism efforts. The state government noted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's approval for deploying an Army battalion under Operation Savannah Shield to the area.

The Red Cross and other sources have cited a higher toll of 162 confirmed deaths as of Wednesday afternoon, making it one of the deadliest single incidents in Kwara State in recent history and heightening national concerns about terrorism spreading beyond traditional hotspots in the Northeast and Northwest.

Kwankwaso extended condolences to the victims' families, the people of Kwara State, and the state government, urging unity and vigilance. He stressed that allowing such groups to operate unchecked endangers the entire country, with no region immune.

The statement has drawn parallels to broader criticisms of national security management, with other figures like Peter Obi also describing the incident as a “major failure” for the nation. No immediate response from the presidency was available at the time of this report.

This tragedy underscores the persistent insecurity challenges facing Nigeria, even in areas once seen as relatively stable.