By Ayomide Otitoju
The United Nations, the United States, and Türkiye have condemned the deadly attacks on communities in Kwara State, describing the killings as heinous and expressing condolences to the victims and the Nigerian government.
In separate statements, the international actors reacted to the assault on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities, where gunmen killed at least 75 people, injured several others, razed shops, destroyed the residence of a traditional ruler, and forced residents to flee their homes.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a post on X, strongly condemned the attack, which occurred on February 3. He extended his condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and government of Nigeria, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
The United States Mission in Nigeria also denounced the violence, describing it as a horrific attack. While noting that casualty figures were still being clarified and that many victims remained unaccounted for, the mission expressed sympathy with affected families and welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to deploy security forces to protect vulnerable communities. It also praised the President’s order for federal and state authorities to provide assistance to victims and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
Similarly, Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack, offering condolences to the families of the victims and the Nigerian people. The ministry reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for Nigeria in its fight against terrorism.
In response to the attack, the Inspector-General of Police ordered the immediate deployment of tactical, operational, and intelligence assets to Kaiama Local Government Area. The Nigeria Police Force described the incident as tragic and confirmed that a manhunt is underway to apprehend the perpetrators.
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described the incident as a “pure massacre,” disclosing that at least 75 victims had already been buried.
President Bola Tinubu has also directed the deployment of an army battalion to reinforce security in the state under Operation Savannah Shield.
The killings have drawn widespread condemnation from political groups, including a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Northern States Governors’ Forum, which described the attack as barbaric and reflective of the worsening security situation in the region.
