• Trump says U.S. confronting campaign against religious believers
• Northern govs condemn killings, urge decisive security response
• DHQ links Woro massacre to rejection of extremist indoctrination
• AbdulRazaq orders emergency relief, confirms deployment of soldiers
• Obi decries killings, calls for nationwide war on insecurity
• Gani Adams renews call for state police after Kwara bloodshed
• Yoruba youth group, Amnesty Int’l warn over rising violence

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu yesterday held a closed-door meeting with Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the State House in Abuja, following the recent deadly attack on the Woro community in Kaiama Local Council of Kwara State.

The engagement came barely two days after reports that at least 160 residents were killed in the rural settlement in an assault authorities have linked to suspected jihadist fighters, heightening national concern over security in the North-Central region.

Presidential sources said the talks formed part of emergency consultations on the situation in Kwara and the Federal Government’s immediate security and humanitarian response to the killings.

Meanwhile, in a separate development abroad, attention also turned to the United States, where President Donald Trump addressed concerns over religious freedom, pledging action against what he called growing intolerance towards believers.

Trump said his administration is taking direct action against what he described as a militant and intolerant campaign aimed at pushing religious believers out of public life.

“My administration is confronting head-on the militant and really intolerant campaign that tried to drive religious believers out of public life and out of society,” he said.

He did not provide further details on the policies or actions being taken, but stressed that protecting religious freedom remained a priority of his government.

On Wednesday, Tinubu ordered the deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama and approved the establishment of a new military command structure to coordinate Operation Savannah Shield, an initiative aimed at dislodging armed groups and reinforcing protection for vulnerable communities.

The President had earlier condemned the attack as “cowardly and inhumane”, directing closer collaboration between federal and state agencies to support affected residents, strengthen intelligence operations and ensure those responsible are tracked down and prosecuted.

Northern govs condemn killings, demand decisive security action

Also, the Northern States Governors’ Forum has condemned the recent wave of violent attacks and killings in parts of Kwara State, Katsina State and Benue State, describing the incidents as barbaric and senseless.
The forum chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, gave the condemnation in a statement issued in Gombe yesterday by his media aide, Ismaila Uba-Misilli.

Yahaya expressed sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and extended condolences to bereaved families, affected communities, and the governments and people of the three states.

“These heinous acts of violence are unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms.

“The relentless targeting of defenceless citizens, including women, children and the elderly, lays bare the inhumanity of these attackers and underscores the pressing necessity for firm and decisive action,” he said.

The NSGF chairman commended the governors of Kwara, Katsina and Benue for their leadership and resilience amid repeated security challenges, as well as their efforts to support affected communities and work with federal authorities to restore peace.
He urged security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordinated operations to track down those responsible and their backers, stressing that the protection of lives and property remains a sacred duty.

“The Northern Governors’ Forum stands firmly with our security agencies and urges them to deploy all lawful means necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“These crimes must not go unpunished,” he added.

DHQ says Kwara attack sparked by villagers’ rejection of extremist indoctrination
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja has said the deadly attack on Woro and neighbouring communities in Kaiama Local Council of Kwara State was carried out by terrorists angered by residents’ refusal to submit to ideological indoctrination.

In a statement issued yesterday and signed by the Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, the military described the assault as a “cowardly terrorist attack” that claimed innocent lives, while expressing shock and condolences to affected families and communities.

According to the DHQ, the assailants had earlier entered Woro village seeking permission to “conduct preaching and indoctrination sessions”, a request the villagers reportedly rejected.
The military said troops were subsequently deployed to the area, maintaining patrols, surveillance and other security measures for about two weeks.

“However, weeks after the troops withdrew, the cowardly terrorists returned to kill innocent citizens in protest and in a bid to terrorise inhabitants and others,” the statement said.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria commended residents of Woro and surrounding communities for what it described as their resilience and refusal to abandon their way of life or constitutional loyalty despite threats.

“The AFN mourns with the families of those who have lost loved ones in these and other similar brutal attacks on defenceless citizens defending community values and freedom across Nigeria,” the military added.

The DHQ urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in their faith in the Constitution and resist ideological indoctrination by violent extremist groups, warning that such groups seek to impose “twisted beliefs through terror and intimidation”.

It also called for stronger cooperation between citizens and security agencies, saying unity and resilience remain the country’s strongest defence against terrorism.
Reaffirming its commitment to national security, the DHQ said efforts were being intensified, in collaboration with other agencies, to track down and prosecute those responsible for the Woro attack and other acts of terrorism nationwide.

AbdulRazaq orders emergency support for victims as soldiers deployed

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has directed the State Emergency Management Agency to mobilise relief for victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Council.
AbdulRazaq gave the directive yesterday after visiting the affected areas, where he commiserated with residents, the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Sheu Omar, and the people of Kaiama.

The governor arrived in Kaiama late Wednesday in the company of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Salihu Yakubu-Danladi, security commanders and senior government officials. The Head of Woro, Alhaji Saliu Bio Umar, and his chiefs joined the emir to receive him.

Praying for the repose of the deceased, AbdulRazaq announced the immediate deployment of soldiers to the area by President Bola Tinubu under Operation Savannah Shield.

“We are very sad. We are here today to commiserate with your Royal Highness over the death of 75 of your subjects. May Allaah grant them Al-jannah Firdaus,” the governor said at the Emir’s Palace late Wednesday.

“Your emirate is versatile and from the information we have been getting, these victims were massacred because they refused to succumb to a strange Islamic doctrine.

“This is different from what we used to see, where subjects were being kidnapped for ransom. This was a pure massacre. We commiserate with you.”

AbdulRazaq also commended President Tinubu for approving the deployment of a battalion of soldiers under Operation Savannah Shield.

“At the moment, the state emergency services will be going to carry out the enumeration and look for how to take care of the members of the family,” he said.

He added: “We thank the security agencies for doing a yeoman’s job, swinging from one part of the state to the other. As such, the issues in Kwara South have been subdued largely.

“This is a major challenge to tackle now, because it goes beyond Kwara and goes also to the Kainji Park in Niger State. They have murdered sleep and I can assure you that within the next month, the whole place will be flooded with soldiers. And the results will be positive, God willing.”

Speaking earlier, the emir told the governor that the attackers were followers of Mahmuda, who he said preached a strange ideology and targeted residents who rejected them.
He thanked AbdulRazaq for his swift intervention and support.

Peter Obi condemns killings, urges decisive action on insecurity

Former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has condemned the recent wave of killings in Kwara State, describing the attacks as tragic and a reflection of Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.

In a statement shared yesterday, Obi said he was “deeply saddened” by reports that gunmen attacked communities including Woro and Nuku, allegedly killing at least 160 people.

He extended his condolences to the bereaved families, as well as the government and residents of the state.

“Every loss of innocent life is tragic, and these killings represent a major failure for us as a nation,” he wrote.

The former Anambra State governor said the persistent violence across different parts of the country underscored the urgent need for decisive action against insecurity, warning that Nigeria’s situation had deteriorated beyond levels seen in some conflict-ridden countries.

“These recurring acts of violence across our country – now worse than what occurs in some countries at war – underscore the urgent need for us, as a nation, to declare war on insecurity of lives and property and to deploy every possible means to end this scourge,” he said.

Obi called on relevant authorities to act swiftly by restoring peace in the affected areas, ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice, and reassuring citizens of their safety.

Gani Adams condemns killings, calls for urgent state police

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Gani Adams, has condemned the killing of at least 160 civilians in Kwara State, describing the attack as a grave violation of human rights and an affront to peace and security.

In a statement yesterday, Adams said the loss of so many lives was unacceptable and called for urgent action to ensure justice for the victims and their families.
He said such atrocities undermine the social fabric and development of communities and must be prevented at all costs.

Adams stressed the need for the immediate establishment of state police, arguing that a decentralised security structure could have neutralised the attack.

“It is imperative that state police be established without further waste of time. The state police would have strengthened their presence and operational capacity in vulnerable areas, improved collaboration with local communities for early warning signals, and enhanced rapid response mechanisms to deter and respond to security threats swiftly.

“Without mincing words, effective intelligence gathering, timely intervention, and proactive community engagement by the state police could have played a significant role in preventing this tragedy,” he said.

He also urged relevant authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into the massacre, bring the perpetrators to justice, and implement robust security measures to prevent a recurrence.

Yoruba youth group raises alarm, urges intelligence-led security response
The Yoruba Youth Socio-Cultural Association (YYSA) yesterday expressed concern over Nigeria’s worsening security situation following the killing of at least 160 residents in Kaiama, Kwara State, by suspected bandits.

In a statement, the National President of the association, Habib Olalekan Hammed, described the attack as tragic and barbaric, warning that the incident should serve as a red alert to governments and residents across the South-West.
The group said the massacre in Kaiama highlighted the growing audacity of bandits and other criminal elements, stressing the urgent need for a comprehensive, intelligence-driven response from security agencies.

YYSA lamented that insecurity, once seen as distant from the South-West, is gradually spreading into the region, posing serious threats to lives, livelihoods and social stability. It warned that failure to act decisively could expose more communities to similar attacks.

The association called for enhanced intelligence gathering, improved surveillance and better coordination among security agencies, arguing that reactive measures after attacks are no longer sufficient in the face of increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.

It also urged the Federal Government to adopt a more focused approach to tackling terrorism and violent extremism nationwide, saying authorities must urgently prioritise efforts against religious extremists and armed groups threatening national unity and security.

Amnesty Int’l condemns surge in killings, abductions

Amnesty International has condemned what it described as an alarming escalation of killings and abductions for ransom across Nigeria, warning that the continued bloodshed reflects the failure of authorities to protect lives and property.
In a statement issued yesterday, the global human rights organisation said Nigerians were feeling increasingly unsafe as gunmen and criminal gangs operate with near-total impunity across several states.

Amnesty described Tuesday, February 3, 2026, as a “Bloody Tuesday”, following coordinated attacks in different parts of the country that reportedly left dozens dead.

According to the organisation, gunmen carried out deadly assaults in Woro and Nuku communities in Kwara State, Doma Tafoki in Katsina State, and Abande in Benue State, where residents were said to have been killed in large numbers.

“Alarming escalation of attacks, abductions for ransom and frequent killings across Nigeria have left people feeling more unsafe, showing utter failure of the Nigerian authorities to protect lives and properties,” Amnesty said.