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By Lukman Olabiyi
The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has condemned the killing of more than 200 civilians in the western part of Kwara State, describing the incident as a grave violation of human rights and a threat to national security.
Adams, in a statement issued on Thursday, said the mass killing was unacceptable and called for urgent steps to ensure justice for the victims and their families.
The attack reportedly occurred late Tuesday when gunmen launched a ferocious assault on two villages in the western part of the state after residents allegedly refused to “surrender to extremists who preached a strange doctrine,” according to the state governor.
Amnesty International reported that many victims were shot at close range, while others were burned alive.
In addition to the killings in Woro and Nuku villages, at least 38 persons were abducted, several residents were displaced, and homes and shops were set ablaze.
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Following the incident, President Bola Tinubu deployed an army battalion to the affected communities and blamed the attack on the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.
Reacting to the development, Adams said the atrocity underscored the urgent need for the establishment of state police across the country, noting that such a structure could have helped prevent the tragedy.
“It is imperative that state police be established without further delay. State police would strengthen security presence and operational capacity in vulnerable areas, improve collaboration with local communities for early warning signals, and enhance rapid response mechanisms to deter threats,” he said.
He added that effective intelligence gathering, timely intervention, and proactive community engagement by state-controlled policing could have played a significant role in averting the attack.
Adams further urged relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the massacre, bring the perpetrators to justice, and implement stronger security measures to prevent a recurrence.
