One person has been confirmed dead after gunmen attacked the Koro community in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The assault, carried out by suspected terrorists on Sunday afternoon, sent shockwaves through the community and forced residents into a state of panic.
Witnesses said the attackers invaded the area heavily armed, firing indiscriminately as frightened residents fled their homes to avoid being hit. During the chaos, one resident lost his life as a result of the shooting.
Koro community shares a boundary with Egbe in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, both located within Nigeria’s North-Central region, an area that has witnessed a rise in violent attacks in recent weeks.
The latest incident occurred just a day after terrorists struck the Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of the same state, where no fewer than 75 people were killed.
Several houses and other properties were also destroyed during that earlier attack, further deepening fears among residents of the region.
Confirming the scale of the Woro killings, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, “The present toll of casualties that we have from that dastardly act that happened on the 3rd of February at about 17:30 hours is 75.”
She added that “Investigations are still ongoing,” as security agencies continue efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding the attack.
In response to the growing wave of violence, President Bola Tinubu condemned the killings and ordered the immediate deployment of troops to affected areas.
“I condemn in the strongest terms this cowardly and beastly attack. The gunmen are heartless for choosing soft targets in their doomed campaign of terror. Their actions offend our humanity, our faith, and our shared values as a nation,” Tinubu said while receiving Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
The President further disclosed, “Yesterday, I directed the immediate deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State following the horrific attack on innocent villagers in Worro.
“This new military command will spearhead Operation Savannah Shield to checkmate these barbaric terrorists and protect defenceless communities.”
What you should know
The attack on Koro community adds to a worrying pattern of escalating violence in Kwara State and neighbouring areas in the North-Central region.
Coming just a day after the mass killing in Woro, the incident underscores the growing security challenges facing rural communities.
The Federal Government has responded by deploying troops and launching Operation Savannah Shield, aimed at restoring order and preventing further attacks.
However, residents continue to express fear as investigations into the attacks remain ongoing.
