Nigerian Village Under Siege: Chief Recounts Night of Terror as Hundreds Die in Islamist Attack
In a devastating turn of events, the traditional chief of Woro village in Nigeria's Kwara state has recounted the horrific night when hundreds were killed and many more displaced by an Islamist attack that left residents fleeing for their lives. The attack, which has been described as one of the deadliest this year, saw gunmen storm into the village, shoot indiscriminately, and burn homes, leaving a trail of destruction and death in its wake.
Chief Umar Bio Salihu, 53, who survived the attack by hiding in a house, recounted the chaos that unfolded when the attackers arrived around 5 pm on Tuesday. "All those shops along the road were burnt... Some people have been burned inside their houses," he told AFP news agency, still visibly shaken by the events of that night.
The chief's account highlights the sheer scale and brutality of the attack, which has left over 160 people dead according to the Red Cross. Salihu also revealed that two of his sons were killed in the crossfire, while his second wife and three daughters were kidnapped by the attackers and taken into the bush.
Woro village, with its population of several thousand, was a peaceful community until the arrival of Islamist extremist groups, who have been using the region as a hideout. The chief's account underscores the growing threat posed by these groups to the country's stability.
The attack has sparked widespread condemnation from politicians and security experts alike, who are warning of an escalating crisis in Nigeria's north-western regions. President Bola Tinubu has deployed troops to the affected area, but many fear that more needs to be done to address the root causes of the violence.
As insecurity continues to grip Nigeria, concerns are growing about the scale and reach of extremist groups operating in the country. While the Nigerian government has denied claims of a "genocide" against Christians, experts say that the country's security crises claim lives without distinction, often targeting civilians at random.
In another development, unknown gunmen have attacked Doma village in Katsina state, killing at least 13 people, according to police reports. The attack is part of a broader trend of insecurity that has been plaguing Nigeria for months, with many warning of an escalating crisis unless urgent action is taken to address the underlying issues.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with the growing threat of Islamist extremism, one thing is clear: the country needs a coordinated response from government and civil society to address this pressing issue and restore peace to its troubled regions.
In a devastating turn of events, the traditional chief of Woro village in Nigeria's Kwara state has recounted the horrific night when hundreds were killed and many more displaced by an Islamist attack that left residents fleeing for their lives. The attack, which has been described as one of the deadliest this year, saw gunmen storm into the village, shoot indiscriminately, and burn homes, leaving a trail of destruction and death in its wake.
Chief Umar Bio Salihu, 53, who survived the attack by hiding in a house, recounted the chaos that unfolded when the attackers arrived around 5 pm on Tuesday. "All those shops along the road were burnt... Some people have been burned inside their houses," he told AFP news agency, still visibly shaken by the events of that night.
The chief's account highlights the sheer scale and brutality of the attack, which has left over 160 people dead according to the Red Cross. Salihu also revealed that two of his sons were killed in the crossfire, while his second wife and three daughters were kidnapped by the attackers and taken into the bush.
Woro village, with its population of several thousand, was a peaceful community until the arrival of Islamist extremist groups, who have been using the region as a hideout. The chief's account underscores the growing threat posed by these groups to the country's stability.
The attack has sparked widespread condemnation from politicians and security experts alike, who are warning of an escalating crisis in Nigeria's north-western regions. President Bola Tinubu has deployed troops to the affected area, but many fear that more needs to be done to address the root causes of the violence.
As insecurity continues to grip Nigeria, concerns are growing about the scale and reach of extremist groups operating in the country. While the Nigerian government has denied claims of a "genocide" against Christians, experts say that the country's security crises claim lives without distinction, often targeting civilians at random.
In another development, unknown gunmen have attacked Doma village in Katsina state, killing at least 13 people, according to police reports. The attack is part of a broader trend of insecurity that has been plaguing Nigeria for months, with many warning of an escalating crisis unless urgent action is taken to address the underlying issues.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with the growing threat of Islamist extremism, one thing is clear: the country needs a coordinated response from government and civil society to address this pressing issue and restore peace to its troubled regions.
?? I just saw that news about the village under siege and it's so sad 
. 160 people dead is crazy! And like, how did those two sons of the chief die? Was it in the crossfire or something? 
Also, why do these extremist groups have to target innocent villages and civilians? It's just not right 
. I feel bad for the chief and his family, I hope they get the help they need 
. And what about those three daughters who were kidnapped? 
Do you think they'll be safe? 
. It's heartbreaking to hear about hundreds of people losing their lives in such a brutal attack 
. How can an entire village be caught off guard like that? 
I mean, Woro village was supposed to be peaceful 
. The fact that the chief's sons were killed and his daughters kidnapped is just devastating 
. President Tinubu deploying troops is a good start 
, but it's not just about military action alone 
. We need to address the root causes of these crises and bring communities together to find solutions 
.
. I'm glad some politicians and security experts are speaking out against this violence 
, but we need more concrete action from the government 
.
. As a country, we need to take a closer look at our national security strategies 
and work together with civil society to find lasting solutions 
. It's not too late to act and bring peace back to these troubled regions 
.
. I keep thinking about Chief Umar Bio Salihu and his family, he must be going through hell right now 
.
. How can we let this happen? We need to come together as a country and do something about it 
. This is getting out of hand, folks! We can't keep living like this 
. I'm calling on our leaders to take immediate action and address the root causes of these attacks 
.
. We can do better, Nigeria! We must do better 
.
The way those people were brutally attacked and killed in their own village is just shocking. I can only imagine how Chief Umar Bio Salihu must be feeling after surviving that traumatic night. His story is like a nightmare come true - his family was torn apart, including two of his sons who lost their lives. And the fact that some people were even burned alive in their own homes is just horrific.
. And to think that this is happening on an almost daily basis in different parts of the country... it's like the violence is spreading 
the way those villagers were runnin outta their homes like they owed someone money is just crazy my granddad used to talk about how nigeria was supposed to be somethin more back in the day, all that progress and now it's like they're losin ground again 
those islamic extremist groups they need to be stopped, no question mark 
need some serious help from the gov 
those who lost loved ones will never be forgotten 
.
. It's not just the victims who are suffering, but also their loved ones left behind, trying to make sense of what happened 
.
nigeria is already dealing with so many issues and now this? 
is giving me nightmares 
we need to get our priorities straight and tackle these extremist groups ASAP 
what's going on in nigeria is just getting worse by the day 
The situation in Nigeria's north-western regions is getting out of control, it's heartbreaking to see innocent lives lost and communities torn apart by extremist groups. We need urgent action from the government and civil society to address the root causes of this violence.