Kwara Massacre Eyewitness Account: Gunmen Storm Oniworo’s Palace, Kill Two Sons, Kidnap Wife and Daughters Before Slaughtering 162+ in Woro

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Fresh eyewitness testimonies have revealed disturbing new details about the deadly jihadist attack in Woro and Nuku villages, confirming that the palace of the traditional ruler was the first target before gunmen carried out one of Nigeria’s bloodiest massacres of the year.

The Oniworo of Woro, Alhaji Salihu Bio Umar (also known as Umar Bio Salihu), disclosed that armed militants believed to be Lakurawa jihadists linked to the Islamic State stormed his palace between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

According to the monarch, the attackers arrived heavily armed and immediately opened fire when they did not find him on arrival. Two of his sons were shot dead at the palace entrance, while the gunmen abducted his younger wife and three daughters, forcing them into the surrounding forest.

“They just came in and started shooting,” the ruler said, visibly shaken. “They killed two of my sons in front of my house. They took my second wife and three of my children. They are still with them in the bush.”

The assailants reportedly demanded vehicle keys, destroyed several cars, and used one vehicle to transport captives before moving deeper into the village.

After attacking the palace, the gunmen advanced into Woro town, where they rounded up residents, bound some victims, executed dozens at close range, set homes and shops ablaze, and looted property. Survivors told BBC Pidgin that as many as 100 attackers on motorcycles, some wearing military-style camouflage, operated freely for hours.

Security forces reportedly arrived several hours later, with some residents claiming help came nearly 10 hours after the attack began, despite warnings of militant activity in the area.

The Nigerian Red Cross has confirmed at least 162 fatalities, though local officials and community leaders believe the true number may be higher. Victims include the Chief Imam, teachers, school administrators, students, and entire families. Mass burials have since taken place, including for the ruler’s slain sons.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq condemned the killings, describing them as a “cowardly terrorist attack” and suggesting the violence may be retaliation against recent military operations targeting extremist groups in the region.

Security analysts warn that the massacre underscores a dangerous westward expansion of jihadist violence into north-central Nigeria, exploiting porous borders, remote terrain, and delayed response capabilities.

As search-and-rescue operations continue for abducted victims—including the Oniworo’s wife and daughters—hundreds of residents remain displaced, many fleeing into nearby forests or neighboring communities.

The attack has intensified calls for urgent security reforms, faster response times, improved intelligence sharing, and better protection for vulnerable rural communities, as Nigeria grapples with an expanding and increasingly deadly insurgency.