Head of Woro village in Kwara State, Umar Bio Salihu, has revealed that there are more than 75 people killed in his community during an attack over religious ideological resistance.
The Village Head, who spoke to Arise TV on Thursday, monitored by Pan-Atlantic Kompass, confirmed the death toll despite the Kwara State government insisting that only 75 people died during the attack by the terrorists.
According to Salihu, the 75 casualties cited by the government are only the number of people who have been buried as of Wednesday.
He maintained that other corpses haven’t been recovered by their families.
Salihu added that they are still searching for more bodies.
He stated: “As of yesterday, we were able to bury 75 people. But as I’m speaking with you, some corpses are in the bush this morning, and we will trace them.
“The people they killed are almost Muslim. The Muslims are 95 and the Christians are 5%. They are not all Muslims, there are Christians there.”
This comes as the Secretary of the Kwara State chapter of the Red Cross, Babaomo Ayodeji, had said the confirmed death toll stood at 162 as of Wednesday afternoon.
The village head also revealed that the people were killed due to a deep-seated religious ideological resistance that had been simmering beneath the surface for months.
According to him, the attackers targeted those who refused to adhere to a specific set of radical doctrines, leading to a bloody standoff.
He also revealed that the terrorists had written a letter to his community about their plans to come and “preach.” He added that he forwarded the letter to the security agents and even went to the Emirate to report the issue.
The village head made this revelation amid reports that sensitive intelligence may have been compromised within the Nigerian security system.
He said: “About a month ago, they (terrorists) brought a letter, they served my own community and the community very close to me, saying that they are coming down to come and preach.
“So, I received a letter. Immediately, I received a letter, and I WhatsApped the DSS in Kayama. The following day, I took the letter to the Emirate, and I know the necessary information must have gone to the appropriate quarters.
“So they (terrorists) wanted to come but the Military went there for patrol. Initially, we had a military base there. We have about 15 soldiers there. So, about three months ago, they came here to attack those military personnel. Then they evacuated the military personnel.
“We don’t have any security present in that area. In that our axis, and that was what gave them the right to come anytime, they enter anytime and do whatever they like.
“The attack happened after 5 (on Tuesday), and immediately we alerted the security agents. But before they came, it was midnight, around 3 o’clock (on Wednesday).
“In fact, exactly when the incident started, around two to three hours after the incident started, there was a plane that did surveillance. We don’t know whether the plane bombed them or not, but we saw the plane going all over the place.”
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu ordered the deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, where terrorists killed a large number of villagers.
This was disclosed in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, issued on Wednesday night.
The statement reads: “President Bola Tinubu has ordered the deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama Local Government, Kwara State, where Boko Haram terrorists overnight killed hapless villagers in Worro.
“President Tinubu said the new military command will spearhead Operation Savannah Shield to checkmate the barbaric terrorists and protect defenceless communities.
“He condemned the cowardly and beastly attack and described the gunmen as heartless for choosing soft targets in their doomed campaign of terror.
“President Tinubu expressed rage that the attackers killed the community members who rejected their obnoxious attempt at indoctrination, choosing instead to practice Islam that is neither extreme nor violent.
“It’s commendable that the community members, even though Muslims, refused to be conscripted into a weird belief that promoted violence over peace and dialogue,” he said.
“The President urged collaboration between federal and state agencies to provide succour to members of the community and ensure those who committed the atrocities do not go scot-free.
“President Tinubu prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and condoled with those who lost family members. He also condoled with the people and the government of Kwara State.”
