Nigeria woke up this week to yet another unspeakable tragedy, one that should shake the conscience of even the most indifferent observer. Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State was turned into a theatre of horror as suspected Sahel-linked terrorists unleashed a carefully coordinated massacre that lasted from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. What was once a quiet and peaceful settlement became a killing field, reminding Nigerians that terror has migrated far beyond the Northeast and now stalks the heart of the country with confidence and impunity.
By the time the gunfire subsided, dozens of innocent lives had been brutally extinguished. Among the victims were two wives of the Emir of Woro, several of his children, the Chief Imam of the community, a school principal, a headmistress, and schoolchildren who had only just returned from school. Entire families were wiped out, while symbols of authority, faith, and education were deliberately targeted and destroyed. The Emir himself, Alhaji Saliu Bio Umar, has since disappeared, raising grave fears of abduction or execution, while his palace was set ablaze in an act meant to humiliate tradition and erase leadership.
Eyewitness accounts paint a chilling picture of over 200 heavily armed fighters storming the town with military-style precision. They moved from house to house and street to street, killing without discrimination or mercy. Travelers were ambushed, farmers cut down, women and children slaughtered. Some victims were shot while fleeing; others had their throats slit at close range. For hours, the attackers operated unchallenged, turning Nigerian territory into occupied ground under the black shadow of terror.
Security forces reportedly responded to distress calls but were overwhelmed by the number and firepower of the attackers, forcing a tactical withdrawal. That retreat, however justified militarily, left Woro completely defenseless. The terrorists took full control, even seizing the Emir’s official vehicle to transport abducted victims to unknown destinations. By Wednesday morning, they returned to finish the job, hunting down survivors and those who came back in search of loved ones, sending a cruel message that survival itself was temporary.
Beyond the bloodshed lies a deeper and more troubling context. Investigations point to a Sadiku-led Boko Haram faction linked to wider Sahel terror networks. Months earlier, residents reportedly resisted attempts by the group to impose extremist sermons and ideology on the community. The Emir stood firm, rejected their demands, and alerted state authorities to the growing threat. That courage and cooperation with the state may have marked Woro for annihilation, turning the massacre into a calculated act of revenge against defiance.
This was not just an attack on a village; it was an attack on the very pillars that hold society together. By killing traditional rulers’ families, clerics, teachers, and schoolchildren, the terrorists sent a chilling signal that no institution is sacred and no authority is beyond reach. It was a direct assault on leadership, faith, education, and communal order, designed to replace them with fear, silence, and submission.
The haunting question therefore remains unavoidable: where is the Commander-in-Chief while Nigerian communities are overrun, leaders erased, and children slaughtered? For hours, terrorists ruled a part of Nigeria without resistance. Nigeria is no longer merely under threat; Nigeria is bleeding. And until decisive leadership, accountability, and action replace rhetoric and silence, the flames that consumed Woro may yet spread further, consuming the fragile hope of safety across the nation.
Happy Sunday with heart full of love and pains.
Solomon Dalung LLM, LLB, BL
Garkuwa Arewa, Dike Egwureogwu & Igbarman Otarok
Voice of Voiceless Majority
igbarman@gmail.com
