The head of Woro village in Kwara State, Mr. Umar Saliu, says that only a permanent military presence and a strategic security overhaul can protect communities in the Kaiama local government area from recurring terrorist atrocities.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Saliu revealed the devastating scale of a recent attack by radical extremists, which has left the community in a state of mourning and fear. While the state government initially confirmed 75 deaths, Saliu warned the toll is likely higher as search parties continue to recover bodies from surrounding farmlands.
According to him, “As at yesterday, we buried 75, but there are some corpses that are still lying in the bush… some people are running, they shot them, they went and died inside some farmland.”
Salu argued that the current security architecture is insufficient, noting a critical “lag” of nearly ten hours between the start of the attack and the arrival of ground troops. He pointed out that while the conducted surveillance, the lack of immediate ground intervention allowed bandits to operate with impunity. “What I am suggesting and requesting the state or federal government is that if they can get us a standard security that will be able to protect the life of citizens there… I think this situation will be solved,” he told ARISE.
He pointed to the withdrawal of a previous military outpost, which housed roughly 15 soldiers, as the turning point that left the region vulnerable. “They packed those army and they leave that place open. I think that’s what caused all this problem,”salu said, emphasizing that bandits are emboldened by the vacuum of authority.
Saliu also addressed the limitations of local vigilantes, stating that they are currently unable to defend the people because they are being hunted and outgunned by extremists. “If they see any vigilante, they shoot him and that is all,” he said, highlighting the desperate need for federal reinforcement.
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