A brutal assault on two villages in western Nigeria’s Kwara state has claimed at least 162 lives, marking one of the deadliest attacks in recent months.
The Lakurawa, an armed group affiliated with the Islamic State, is suspected to be behind the Tuesday evening attacks on Woro and Nuku villages.
The attack, described as a “cowardly expression of frustration” by Kwara state governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, highlights Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with insecurity.
The country faces multiple threats, including Islamic militant insurgency in the northeast and kidnappings for ransom by gunmen in the northwest and north-central regions.
Experts attribute the attack to Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), a Boko Haram faction responsible for recent massacres in the area.
The Nigerian military has responded with operations against armed extremists, but attacks persist.
The international community is watching Nigeria’s security crisis, with the US deploying military officers to the country and launching airstrikes on IS-affiliated militants in December.
