Among those killed in the bloody onslaught are two wives of the Emir of Woro, several of his children, the Chief Imam of Woro, a school principal, a headmistress, and students who had just returned home from school.
Dozens of people have been brutally massacred following a coordinated and deadly attack by suspected Sahel-backed terrorists on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Among those killed in the bloody onslaught are two wives of the Emir of Woro, several of his children, the Chief Imam of Woro, a school principal, a headmistress, and students who had just returned home from school.
The Emir himself, Alhaji Saliu Bio Umar, is currently missing, sparking fears that he may have been abducted or killed by the attackers.
SaharaReporters gathered that the terrorists are allegedly linked to a Sadiku-led Boko Haram faction with suspected operational ties to terrorist networks operating across the Sahel region.
The attackers reportedly invaded Woro on Tuesday evening, unleashing unprecedented violence on residents and passersby.
According to National Pilot, the terrorists killed indiscriminately, slaughtering men, women, and children.
“They were killing anyone they met,” a source said, adding that travellers passing through Woro to other destinations were also murdered during the rampage.
Meanwhile, it was confirmed that dozens of people were killed during the attack, including members of the Emir’s immediate family.
Two of the Emir’s wives and some of his children were reportedly among those killed when the attackers overran the community.
The Chief Imam of Woro, regarded as a key religious figure in the area, was also killed, alongside a school principal and a headmistress. Several students who had just returned from school were not spared.
The attackers also reportedly slit the throats of some victims, particularly farmers and traders who had travelled from Ilorin to Woro for agricultural and commercial activities. These individuals were caught unawares as the militants swept through the area.
The Emir of Woro, Alhaji Saliu Bio Umar, remains missing as of the time of filing this report.
However, his official vehicle was seized by the assailants and allegedly used to transport some abducted victims to unknown destinations. His palace was also set ablaze during the attack.
In a disturbing video obtained by SaharaReporters, voices could be heard in the background lamenting that the Emir’s palace had been burned down.
Several lifeless bodies were seen lying on the ground, while some buildings in the community have been burnt.
A voice in the video confirmed that the Emir was missing and that his wives and children had been killed, as flames engulfed sections of the palace.
Residents disclosed that the attack did not end on Tuesday night.
According to multiple sources, the terrorists returned to Woro again on Wednesday morning, killing several more residents who had survived the initial assault or returned to check on their homes and relatives.
Further investigations revealed that the attack is linked to earlier tensions between the Woro community and the Sadiku-led Boko Haram faction.
Months before the massacre, the group had reportedly attempted to force residents to attend their sermons and adopt their extremist teachings. The Emir was said to have resisted the move and refused to cooperate with the group
However, the Emir subsequently alerted Nigerian military authorities about the activities of terrorists in the area, including allegations of coercion, forced preaching, and intimidation of residents. This refusal and reported collaboration with security agencies allegedly enraged the terrorists.
Following the Emir’s defiance, the terrorists reportedly planned and executed a large-scale retaliatory attack on Woro on Tuesday night.
It was gathered that military personnel responded to distress calls from the community but were overwhelmed by the sheer number of attackers.
Meanwhile, more than 200 heavily armed fighters stormed Woro, forcing security forces to carry out a tactical retreat in order to avoid being completely overrun.
The terrorists then had free rein in the community for several hours, during which the mass killings and destruction took place.