The killing of more than 100 people in Woro community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, has sparked nationwide concern, with growing calls for direct federal intervention to prevent further violence.
Reacting to the attack, Senator Bukola Saraki described the incident as a national disaster, warning that the scale and frequency of violence in parts of Kwara State have overwhelmed the capacity of the state government.
He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief, to order the immediate deployment of troops from the Second Mechanised Infantry Division, Ibadan, into affected areas of the state and to establish a permanent military base in the troubled districts.
Calls were also made for enhanced coordination among all security agencies, including the police and other paramilitary forces, to ensure a strong and sustained security presence capable of deterring further attacks.
Security sources say insurgents fleeing intensified military pressure in other parts of the North-Central zone may be seeking refuge in Kwara State, raising fears that the state could become a new operational corridor for armed groups if swift action is not taken.
Kwara State’s strategic importance was repeatedly highlighted, with speakers noting that the state sits at the crossroads between the North and the Southwest, shares borders with several Nigerian states, and has an international boundary with the Republic of Benin—making instability there a broader national security risk.
Sympathy was extended to the victims of the Woro attack and their families, with prayers offered for the deceased and for the recovery of those injured. However, stakeholders stressed that condolences alone are insufficient, insisting that decisive security measures must follow.
Once widely known as the “State of Harmony,” Kwara has in recent months witnessed a surge in killings, arson, and displacement, developments described as unprecedented in the state’s history.
Describing the Woro attack as a national emergency, speakers warned that the violence amounted to a direct assault on the Nigerian state and must be confronted with urgency and resolve to prevent further spread.