President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate deployment of an Army battalion to Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State following a deadly overnight attack on Worro community by suspected terrorists.

The President said the newly assigned military formation would spearhead Operation Savannah Shield, a reinforced security initiative designed to flush out criminal elements, prevent further incursions and restore confidence among vulnerable rural communities in the axis.

Describing the assault as cowardly and inhumane, Tinubu denounced the attackers for targeting unarmed villagers and attempting to spread fear through indiscriminate violence, stressing that the Federal Government would not allow any part of the country to become a sanctuary for terror or intimidation.

He expressed particular outrage that the assailants reportedly attacked residents who resisted attempts at forced indoctrination, noting that the community had chosen peaceful religious practice over extremist ideology.

“It is commendable that the people stood firm in their convictions and rejected doctrines that glorify violence over dialogue and coexistence,” the President said, adding that Nigeria’s diversity of faiths and cultures must never be exploited by violent groups.

Tinubu called for close coordination among federal security agencies, the Kwara State Government and local authorities to provide urgent relief for affected families, strengthen intelligence gathering and ensure that perpetrators of the atrocity are swiftly apprehended and prosecuted.

President Tinubu also directed relevant humanitarian agencies to support survivors and assist the community in rebuilding efforts.

The President prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and extended condolences to bereaved families, as well as to the government and people of Kwara State, assuring them of the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property nationwide.

The directive followed a large-scale bandit attack on Worro and neighbouring Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area on Tuesday evening, which left scores dead and many others displaced.

The gunmen, believed to have emerged from forested routes bordering Niger State, reportedly stormed the communities at about 6 p.m., firing sporadically and setting houses, shops and parts of the traditional ruler’s residence ablaze.

Eyewitness accounts said residents fled into surrounding bushes as the attackers moved from house to house, creating panic and confusion.

Casualty figures varied in the immediate aftermath, with early local estimates putting the death toll in double digits, while humanitarian responders later indicated significantly higher numbers as search and rescue efforts continued. Several residents were also reported injured or missing.

Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq condemned the incident as a “cowardly” reprisal by criminal groups facing sustained security pressure, and ordered intensified joint operations across the affected corridor.

Security agencies subsequently deployed additional troops and police units for rescue missions and pursuit of the attackers.

Former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, also called for robust federal intervention, describing the situation as a national emergency and urging coordinated action to halt the cycle of rural violence.