Defence Headquarters reveals why terrorists carried out mass killings in Kwara
The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, has said the deadly attack on Woro and neighbouring communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State was carried out by terrorists angered by the villagers’ refusal to submit to ideological indoctrination.
The military described the incident as a cowardly terrorist attack that resulted in the loss of innocent lives.
In a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, the Defence Headquarters said the attackers had earlier entered Woro village seeking permission to conduct preaching and indoctrination sessions.
According to the DHQ, the villagers rejected the request outright.
“The assailants had earlier requested to conduct preaching and indoctrination sessions, which the villagers refused,” the statement said.
The military said it was alerted to the initial threat and promptly deployed troops to the area, where robust patrols, surveillance, and other security measures were sustained for about two weeks.
“However, weeks after the troops withdrew, the cowardly terrorists returned to kill innocent citizens in protest and in a bid to terrorise inhabitants and others,” the DHQ said.
Over 170 residents were killed during the Tuesday attack.
If Nigeria is serious to fight and halt terrorism, the Defence minister, Ribadu should be replaced with someone from the areas of direct impact terrorist attack like Jo’s, Benue, Kwara, Nasarawa. It is foolish to ask a Fulani person to champion the campaign of ending a Fulani jihadist and terrorism agenda.
How long shall we continue to give foolish excuses for the loss of lives and properties. This terrorists are not as strong we think, it is only a political game.
Terrorism will be completely halted in Nigeria if you put in the right persons in such sensitive office. As a defence minister, he has access to highly sensitive information
We must say to all political game faking that are bottlenecks to our unity.
Imagine the military saying they patrol the area for 2 weeks – and for them that is the only issue that guaranteed security of lives. The question they are not answering is: where there no intelligence to uncover these terrorists and prosecute them?
We are tired of these messy response