Former Senate President and a national leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has described the recent killings in some communities in Kwara State as a national disaster and has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene.
Saraki made the call following the killing of over 100 people in Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state. The attacks, which occurred on Tuesday, were reportedly carried out by suspected insurgents who also razed several houses and forced residents to flee their homes.
In a statement signed by his Press Officer on Local Matters, Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, Saraki said the scale of violence in Kwara State had gone beyond what the state government could handle alone. He stressed that the Federal Government must now take direct and decisive action to stop further bloodshed.
The former Senate President expressed deep sadness over the attack on Woro community, describing it as painful and disturbing. He said the killing of innocent men, women, and children and the destruction of property showed that the situation had reached an emergency level.
According to him, “What we require now to stop this mass destruction of lives and property in our state and to restore harmony is the decisive and direct intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Saraki urged the President, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to immediately direct security agencies to form a strong inter-agency intervention team. He said the team should be given the task of flushing out bandits and insurgents not only from Kwara State but also from neighbouring states where they may be hiding.
He specifically called on the President to direct the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Second Mechanised Infantry Division in Ibadan to deploy troops fully to the troubled areas of Kwara State. Saraki also asked that a permanent military base be established in the affected communities to ensure lasting security.
“There is also the need for other security agencies to work together and maintain a strong presence across our state. That is the only way we can deter these assailants,” he said.
Saraki warned that insurgents who are being pushed out of other states in the North Central region by security operations should not be allowed to find safety in Kwara State. He noted that without firm action, the state could become a new base for criminal groups.
He explained that Kwara State is too important to Nigeria to be left vulnerable to insecurity. According to him, the state occupies a strategic position in the country.
“Kwara State is located in the middle of the country and serves as a bridge between the North and the Southwest. It also shares an international border with the Republic of Benin and has boundaries with several other states. Allowing insurgency to take root here will have serious consequences for national security,” Saraki said.
Kwara State has long been known as the “State of Harmony” because of its peaceful coexistence among people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds. For many years, the state was largely free from major security challenges compared to some other parts of the country.
However, in recent times, cases of bandit attacks, killings, and kidnappings have increased, especially in rural areas. Communities in the northern and southern senatorial districts have recorded several incidents, forcing residents to abandon their farms and homes.
The latest attack in Woro and Nuku communities is one of the deadliest in the state’s history. Local sources said entire families were wiped out, while many survivors sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment. Several houses were also burnt, leaving many people without shelter.
Saraki said the level of violence, arson, and displacement now being witnessed in Kwara State is unprecedented. He noted that the situation represents a sharp departure from the state’s past as a peaceful place.
“Kwara State has not always been this unsafe. Unfortunately, things have deteriorated badly. There must be decisive measures to stop this orchestrated violence against the people,” he said.
While calling on the Federal Government to lead the response, Saraki also said the Kwara State Government and local government councils must play their own roles. He stressed that security is a shared responsibility and that all levels of government must work together to protect lives and property.
He urged state and local authorities to improve intelligence gathering, support local security efforts, and ensure that affected communities receive relief and support.
Saraki extended his sympathy to the people of Woro community and families who lost loved ones in the attack. He prayed for comfort and strength for them and asked God to grant quick healing to those who were injured.
“My sympathy goes to the people of the Woro community, particularly the families who lost their loved ones. May Almighty Allah comfort them and grant them the strength to bear the loss. May He also heal all the wounded,” he said.
However, Saraki warned that sympathy and press statements alone were not enough. He said concrete action must follow words to ensure that such attacks do not happen again in any part of Kwara State.
He described the attack as a national emergency and said the actions of the assailants amounted to a declaration of war against Nigeria.
“What these criminals did in Woro was to wage war against Nigeria. It is a war the country must win, and it must be won without delay,” Saraki said.
Residents of affected communities have appealed to the government for urgent protection and assistance. Many say they are living in fear and are uncertain about returning to their homes without assurance of safety.