Dozens of people have been killed in a ferocious shooting attack on two villages in Nigeria's western state of Kwara, according to authorities and rights groups. The attackers also set fire to shops and homes, along with the residence of the traditional leader, forcing the residents of Nuku and Woro to flee, local lawmaker Saidu Baba Ahmed told BBC Hausa.
Officials have blamed jihadist groups and deployed an army battalion to Kwara's Kaiama constituency. Tuesday's attack, one of several across Nigeria in the last few days, comes as the country's defence minister confirmed to the BBC that a small team of US troops was in the country to help with intelligence and training.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said Islamist militant group Boko Haram was behind the attack. Local lawmaker Mohammed Omar Bio said Lakurawa, an armed group affiliated with Islamic State, was responsible, according to the Associated Press. Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said 75 local Muslims were massacred in cold blood simply for refusing to surrender to extremists who preached a strange doctrine.
Ahmed initially told BBC Hausa that at least 35 people had died, but human rights groups have since reported more than four times that number of deaths. A Red Cross official in Kwara, Babaomo Ayodeji, told AFP that reports said that the death toll now stands at 162, as the search for more bodies continues.
Amnesty International stated that over 170 people had died, noting many were shot at close range and some burnt alive. Several people were abducted in the attack that was undertaken in a stunning absence of any form of security for the protection of lives, the human rights group called for an investigation. Additionally, 21 people were killed in an attack on Doma village in the state of Katsina, emphasizing the escalating violence in the region.
This series of attacks coincides with the first official acknowledgment from Nigeria regarding the American troop presence, following a request from the Nigerian government to bolster efforts against militant groups. Defence Minister Chrisopher Musa did not provide details on the team’s size or duration of stay, but emphasized the partnership of the US in Nigeria's security initiatives.
The recent spike in violence raises alarming questions about security management in Nigeria, which has battled insurgencies, banditry, and religious extremism in various regions, prompting calls for urgent reforms and international assistance.
Officials have blamed jihadist groups and deployed an army battalion to Kwara's Kaiama constituency. Tuesday's attack, one of several across Nigeria in the last few days, comes as the country's defence minister confirmed to the BBC that a small team of US troops was in the country to help with intelligence and training.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said Islamist militant group Boko Haram was behind the attack. Local lawmaker Mohammed Omar Bio said Lakurawa, an armed group affiliated with Islamic State, was responsible, according to the Associated Press. Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said 75 local Muslims were massacred in cold blood simply for refusing to surrender to extremists who preached a strange doctrine.
Ahmed initially told BBC Hausa that at least 35 people had died, but human rights groups have since reported more than four times that number of deaths. A Red Cross official in Kwara, Babaomo Ayodeji, told AFP that reports said that the death toll now stands at 162, as the search for more bodies continues.
Amnesty International stated that over 170 people had died, noting many were shot at close range and some burnt alive. Several people were abducted in the attack that was undertaken in a stunning absence of any form of security for the protection of lives, the human rights group called for an investigation. Additionally, 21 people were killed in an attack on Doma village in the state of Katsina, emphasizing the escalating violence in the region.
This series of attacks coincides with the first official acknowledgment from Nigeria regarding the American troop presence, following a request from the Nigerian government to bolster efforts against militant groups. Defence Minister Chrisopher Musa did not provide details on the team’s size or duration of stay, but emphasized the partnership of the US in Nigeria's security initiatives.
The recent spike in violence raises alarming questions about security management in Nigeria, which has battled insurgencies, banditry, and religious extremism in various regions, prompting calls for urgent reforms and international assistance.
