At Least 162 Dead in Deadly Gunmen Attack in Nigeria’s Kwara State. Ilorin, Nigeria — 2026-02-04 Lead Paragraph: At least 162 people have been killed in a attack by gunmen in Nigeria’s western Kwara state, according to the Red Cross.
The incident, which involved the storming of the village of Woro and the setting of shops and the king’s palace ablaze, is one of the deadliest attacks in the country in recent months.
The Red Cross reported a death toll of 162, with the search for more bodies ongoing. Babaomo Ayodeji, the Kwara state secretary of the Red Cross, noted that the toll had risen from an earlier figure of 67.
The attack came after the military conducted operations in the area against what it described as “terrorist elements.”.
Local lawmaker Sa’idu Baba Ahmed confirmed the attack, stating that the gunmen opened fire on sleeping villagers and set homes ablaze.
The whereabouts of the traditional king remain unknown. Kwara state governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells following the ongoing counterterrorism campaigns in parts of the state.”.
Nigeria has been addressing a complex security crisis involving armed gangs, jihadist groups, and intercommunal violence.
The Nigerian military has intensified its operations against jihadists and armed bandits, regularly claiming to have killed large numbers of fighters.
However, the government has faced scrutiny after US President Donald Trump alleged a “genocide “of Christians was taking place, a claim that has been rejected by the government and independent experts.
The situation in the affected community remains tense as authorities continue their search for survivors and bodies. Further details are expected as the investigation into the attack unfolds.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
