Residents of Woro and Nuku villages in Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State, were caught off guard when gunmen launched a brutal attack on February 3, 2026, which lasted nearly 24 hours.
Reports indicate that approximately 200 villagers were killed, numerous others abducted, shops looted, and houses razed. Survivors have been recovering bodies, many showing signs of execution-style killings, including bound hands, slit throats, and gunshot wounds.
The terror group responsible has been identified as followers of Mahmuda, a splinter faction of Boko Haram that emerged in North-central Nigeria last year, known for promoting a fringe Islamic ideology and targeting communities that reject their doctrine. The group is believed to be hiding in Kainji Lake National Park and has carried out similar attacks across rural communities in Niger and Nigeria. Although their leader, Abubakar Abba Mahmuda, was arrested by the Department of State Service (DSS) in 2025, the group has continued to operate and become increasingly audacious.
President Bola Tinubu condemned the attacks, while the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muaza Sheu Omar, confirmed that the attackers adhere to the Mahmuda sect. Kwara State Governor Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, accompanied by service chiefs and officials, visited the affected communities on February 5, describing the attack as a massacre of 75 Muslims who refused to adopt the extremist ideology. The governor highlighted the difficulty of addressing insecurity in the area due to its proximity to Kainji National Park and extended across neighboring states. He announced plans to bolster security and established a seven-person committee to provide humanitarian support to victims.
On the federal level, President Tinubu ordered the deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama, emphasizing the bravery of community members in resisting the violent ideology. Authorities have launched Operation Savanna Shield to target the terrorists and protect vulnerable communities.
Security analysts and human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have linked the recurring attacks to porous borders, reactive security measures, and the spillover of extremist groups. Amnesty International highlighted that the Mahmuda faction had issued warning letters and pamphlets to Woro and Nuku for months before the attack, noting that rural neglect left communities highly exposed. The organization urged Nigerian authorities to take immediate and sustained measures to prevent further attacks.
The Kaiama assault is part of a continuing wave of violence in northwest and north-central Nigeria. On the same day, February 3, 2026, armed bandits killed 19 villagers in Doma town, Katsina State, and a police officer along with four villagers in Abande, Benue State. Earlier, on January 18, 2026, 163 worshippers were abducted from two churches in Kaduna State. These incidents underscore the persistent security challenges facing rural communities and the urgent need for coordinated interventions to protect lives and restore stability.
