… launches Operation Savanna Shield
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State following a brutal attack by suspected extremist gunmen that left scores of villagers dead.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement on Thursday that the troops, under a newly appointed field commander will lead a security initiative code-named Operation Savanna Shield. The operation is intended to track down the attackers, reinforce security in the region, and protect vulnerable communities.
Tinubu strongly condemned the raids, describing the violence as “cowardly and beastly” and emphasised that targeting ordinary citizens was unacceptable. He also directed federal and state agencies to coordinate relief for survivors and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
He extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and expressed the federal government’s resolve to restore stability in affected areas.
On Tuesday evening, Feb. 3, 2026, armed men had attacked the villages of Woro and Nuku in Kaiama LGA. Residents and officials reported that the assailants rounded up people, opened fire, and set homes and shops on fire before retreating into surrounding forest areas.
While official counts vary, local authorities confirmed at least 75 deaths, and international aid agencies put the toll higher. The Red Cross said at least 162 people were killed, with dozens more possibly missing.
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According to local officials and residents, the attackers had been present in the area and had reportedly warned villagers in the days before the killings. Some survivors said they were targeted after refusing to adopt extremist teachings reportedly promoted by the gunmen.
The Kwara State Government confirmed the deaths and described the violence as a significant escalation of insecurity in regions of the state previously considered more stable.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq condemned the massacre as a desperate act by armed groups seeking to divert security forces from ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
Former Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki also urged greater federal intervention and called for stronger and sustained security presence in the state’s north to deter future attacks.
The Kwara assault is among the deadliest in Nigeria in recent months and reflects growing insecurity, at times connected to Boko Haram factions, Islamic State-linked groups, and banditry, across parts of the country.
Tinubu’s order to deploy additional soldiers and launch Operation Savanna Shield mirrors other federal responses to violent attacks elsewhere, aimed at strengthening protection for rural and border communities facing armed threats.
