TROOPS SENT TO KWARA, NIGERIA AFTER MASSACRE

Written by Barbara Sam

TROOPS SENT TO KWARA, NIGERIA AFTER MASSACRE | NIGERIAN PRESIDENT BOLA PHOTO BY EVARISTO SA / AFP

[Kwara Nigeria Massacre] Nigerian security forces have been deployed to parts of Kwara State following a large-scale attack that left more than 160 people dead, marking one of the deadliest assaults in central Nigeria in recent years.

The attack occurred late Tuesday in remote villages near the border of Niger. Survivors and local officials said armed men stormed communities, gathered residents, and carried out mass executions before setting homes and shops on fire. Search efforts are still underway, authorities warning that the death toll could rise as search operations move deeper into the surrounding bush.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has condemned the killings as “cowardly and barbaric”, ordering army battalions to the area to restore security and prevent further attacks. Around 38 homes were destroyed, displacing dozens of families and disrupting local economic activity in one of the state’s most vulnerable rural zones.

While no group has claimed responsibility, Nigerian authorities and residents suspect jihadist militants from long-standing insurgent strongholds in the northeast. The massacre highlights a growing security challenge for Nigeria, where insurgence and communal violence continue to stretch military resources across multiple regions.

Energy, agriculture, and trade activities in the region have been disrupted, with hundreds of residents fleeing their homes. Local authorities said dozens of buildings were destroyed, leaving entire villages displaced and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

The violence in Kwara came amid other deadly incidents elsewhere in the country. On the same day, gunmen killed more than 20 people in Katsina State, underscoring Nigeria’s security crisis. In a public confirmation, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) acknowledged that a small group of American military personnel has been deployed to Nigeria. According to the U.S. General of AFRICOM, the deployment followed high-level talks between American and Nigerian officials aimed at deepening cooperation against insurgent threats.

The announcement follows U.S. military airstrikes in December 2025 targeting Islamic State-linked militants in northwest Nigeria. The airstrikes, ordered by U.S. authorities, were coordinated with Nigerian forces aimed at destroying extremist groups amid a rise in kidnappings and armed raids.

Human rights advocates and community leaders have questioned response times. Calls are growing for improved intelligence gathering, faster deployment capabilities, and stronger protection for rural populations that remain exposed to armed groups. Nigerian officials have rejected claims that violence is targeted at specific religious communities, maintaining that all civilians face threats from armed groups.