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At least 35 people were killed in an attack by gunmen in Kwara State, authorities said Wednesday, with the death toll expected to rise.
“This morning I was told that 35 to 40 dead bodies were counted,” said Sa’idu Baba Ahmed, a local lawmaker in the Kaiama region.
Ahmed told AFP that “many others escaped into the bush with gunshots”, and more bodies could be found.
The attack took place in Woro village around 6:00 pm (1700 GMT) on Tuesday. Ahmed said the gunmen set fire to shops and the king’s palace. He noted that the traditional king’s whereabouts are unknown.
The state government blamed the assault on “terrorist cells”.
Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq condemned the attack, labelling it as “a cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells following the ongoing counterterrorism campaigns in parts of the state”.
The attacks happened hours after the state government approved Monday’s reopening of all schools in the state, which had been closed since November 20, 2025, citing increased security due to continuous operations against armed groups.
“Schools across Kwara State can now reopen from Monday, February 2, 2026,” officials said.
The government added that the decision followed “continuous security operations to neutralise all threats to the public, including schools.”
