February 23, 2026 | Kwara State, Nigeria
Residents of Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have accused Nigerian Army personnel deployed after the deadly Woro massacre of abandoning the pursuit of suspected terrorists, instead setting up roadblocks allegedly used to harass and extort locals.
The allegations come weeks after suspected Boko Haram terrorists carried out a coordinated attack on Woro between February 3 and 4, leaving at least 162 villagers dead and spreading fear across surrounding rural communities. Among the victims were two wives of the Emir of Woro, several of his children, the Chief Imam, a school principal, and other civilians.
A resident told SUNTV that soldiers have largely remained within the town rather than moving into nearby forests where attackers are believed to be hiding.
“They didn’t enter the forest; they are just hanging around the community,” the resident said. “The soldiers that we thought would track down these terrorists are now monitoring vehicle movement in the town, extorting motorists at roadblocks.”
Communities surrounding Woro report similar concerns. Villagers in Kali, Baburasa, and Gada Oli said fear has reshaped daily life, with many abandoning farms early and avoiding travel for fear of further attacks.
Ibrahim Hammad, village head of Baburasa, said: “We don’t have adequate security here. It was this same lack of protection that made the Woro attack so devastating. We are pleading with the government to deploy security that actually stays.”
Residents also described the psychological toll on women and children, with many expressing fear and trauma from the massacre. Families are relocating to nearby towns, including Kaiama and Ilorin, to escape the threat of another attack.
A member of a local vigilante group in Gada Oli highlighted the danger of facing heavily armed terrorists with only locally made hunting tools. “How can we face them with Dane guns and sticks when they have sophisticated weapons?” he asked.
Authorities have been accused of acting only after attacks occur, rather than preventing them. “We don’t want condolences; we want protection before another massacre happens,” one resident said.
Security sources link the assault to a Sadiku-led Boko Haram faction operating across the Sahel region. Despite the scale of the killings, proactive military operations in the surrounding forests remain limited, leaving communities feeling abandoned and exposed to further violence.
