Nearly 200 Killed as Armed Groups Raid Villages in Central and Northern Nigeria
Feb 6, 2026: Nigeria is reeling from one of its deadliest weeks this year after coordinated attacks by armed militants left nearly 200 people dead across the states of Kwara and Katsina.
Security forces are currently engaged in search-and-rescue operations as local communities begin mass burials for the victims.
The Massacre in Woro, Kwara State
The most devastating assault occurred on Tuesday evening in the remote village of Woro, located in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
According to local lawmaker Saidu Baba Ahmed and Red Cross officials, the death toll in Woro and the neighboring village of Nuku has climbed to at least 162, with some estimates from rights groups like Amnesty International exceeding 170.
Eyewitnesses and survivors describe a scene of calculated brutality:
Executions: Gunmen reportedly rounded up residents, tied their hands behind their backs, and executed them at close range.
Arson: Over 38 houses, local shops, and the traditional ruler's palace were razed to the ground.
Forced Ideology: Survivors noted that the attackers, believed to be part of the Lakurawa group (affiliated with Islamic State) or JNIM, had previously attempted to force the village to adopt Sharia law.
The massacre was reportedly a reprisal for the community’s refusal to switch their allegiance from the Nigerian state.
President Bola Tinubu has since ordered the immediate deployment of an army battalion to secure the Kaiama district, condemning the act as a "beastly attack" on citizens who stood for peace.
Peace Pact Broken in Katsina
Simultaneously, in the northern state of Katsina, gunmen raided the village of Doma in the Faskari area.
This particular attack is significant as it shatters a six-month peace agreement between the local community and armed bandit groups. In many remote parts of northern Nigeria, vulnerable villages often pool money and food to pay "protection taxes" to these gangs to avoid such raids—a fragile system that local authorities say is increasingly failing.
Rising Insecurity and International Pressure
The surge in violence comes despite recent military claims of "neutralizing" over 150 bandits in the region throughout January.
Security analysts warn that jihadist factions are pushing further south from the Sahel, seeking new strongholds in the forests bordering Kwara and Niger states.
The international community has also increased its focus on the region. Following recent criticisms regarding the protection of civilians, the United States recently deployed a small advisory team to assist Nigerian forces in counter-terrorism efforts.
