Kwara Horror: Residents Burnt Alive as Terrorists Overran Woro Community — Survivors

What began as a day of celebration turned into a nightmare on Tuesday in Woro community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. The town was alive with activities, hosting a large wedding ceremony and a youth football tournament, drawing crowds from within and outside the community. By around 5 p.m., heavily armed terrorists struck.

Survivors said the attackers, who arrived on motorcycles, launched a coordinated assault, shooting indiscriminately and setting houses and shops ablaze. Residents who tried to flee were chased and gunned down, while those who ran indoors were burnt alive as their homes were set on fire.

Three survivors Ibrahim Farouk and Joshua Deme, both farmers, and Usman Bangoro, a miner narrated their ordeal from their hospital beds in Ilorin, where they are receiving treatment. They said the attackers numbered in the hundreds, with three armed men on each motorcycle, many of them teenagers. All were armed with guns and ammunition; none carried cutlasses.

According to the survivors, the attackers had earlier sent a letter claiming they wanted to come and preach, but the village head rejected the request and alerted authorities. Security operatives were deployed briefly but left days before the attack. The terrorists reportedly returned shortly after and surrounded the community before launching the assault.

Bombs were thrown into homes and shops, and an explosive device was also planted along the Kaiama road, where a trailer carrying soya beans later detonated and burnt. Dozens of residents were abducted, including women and children, and taken away using a community vehicle.

At least 35 additional bodies were recovered from nearby forests days after the attack, while more corpses are still being discovered. Many of the victims were attacked while returning from farms, markets, or social events.

The injured survivors sustained severe gunshot wounds, with bullets shattering bones in some cases. They described the attackers as ruthless, unrepentant, and determined to wipe out the community.

Residents have called on the government to intensify security efforts, clear surrounding forests believed to be terrorist hideouts, and ensure lasting protection for vulnerable rural communities.