United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the deadly terrorist attack in Kwara State that claimed the lives of more than 170 people, describing it as a tragic act of violence against innocent civilians.
The attack occurred on Tuesday when armed assailants stormed Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area, killing scores of residents, injuring many others and leaving several people unaccounted for.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims and the Nigerian people, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery. He also reaffirmed the United Nations’ solidarity with Nigeria in its fight against terrorism and violent extremism, stressing the need to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
“The Secretary-General reiterates the solidarity of the United Nations with the Government and people of Nigeria and underscores the importance of bringing the perpetrators of these attacks to justice,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, residents of the affected communities have accused the Kwara State Government of failing to act on repeated security warnings prior to the attack. Several locals told SaharaReporters that youths and community leaders had, for months, reported the presence and movement of armed strangers in nearby forests to traditional rulers, local government officials and the state government.
According to the residents, despite multiple alerts and pleas for the deployment of security forces to secure the area, no decisive action was taken before the assailants launched the deadly assault.
