Islamist Militants Kill 162 in Remote Nigeria Villages

Armed Islamist militants killed at least 162 people in attacks on two remote villages in Nigeria's Kwara state on Tuesday evening. The assaults targeted Woro and Nuku, communities far from the state capital, and lawmakers say the Lakurawa group carried them out after locals refused to join their fight.

Background

Nigeria faces violence from many armed groups across its regions. In the northeast, Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, have fought since 2009. They oppose Western education and want strict Islamic rule. These groups have killed about 35,000 civilians and forced over 2 million from their homes, according to United Nations figures.

The trouble now spreads west and north. Groups like Lakurawa operate near borders with Niger and Benin. This group started in Niger and grew active in Nigeria after a 2023 military coup there. Experts link Lakurawa to Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad, a Boko Haram splinter.

Kwara state sits in western Nigeria, hours from major cities. Its villages like Woro and Nuku lie close to Benin, making them hard to reach. Aid workers from the Red Cross say the trip takes eight hours by road. Such remote spots have seen more attacks as militants hide from troops.

Last week, Boko Haram killed 36 people at a construction site and army base in the northeast. On the same Tuesday as the Kwara attacks, gunmen killed 13 in Doma village in Katsina state. No one claimed those strikes. Nigeria's army fights back, recently killing a top Boko Haram commander named Abu Khalid and 10 fighters in Borno state.

The United States has stepped in too. In December, US forces hit Islamist targets with airstrikes. On Christmas Day, more strikes targeted areas in northern Nigeria. US Africa Command sent a small team of troops this week to help with the crisis.

Key Details

Lawmaker Mohammed Omar Bio represents the Kwara area. He told reporters the death toll reached 162, one of the worst attacks in years. Militants swept into Woro and Nuku as night fell. They tied up some victims and set homes on fire.

Local Red Cross secretary Ayodeji Emmanuel Babaomo said his team struggled to get to the sites. The rough terrain and distance slowed rescue efforts. Bodies lay scattered, and flames lit up the sky, witnesses said.

State governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq called the attacks a sign of militants' anger at army operations. Troops have pushed into hideouts lately, a change from past defenses.

Group Behind the Attacks

Lakurawa takes credit in local talks, though no formal claim came. The group mixes jihad with crime, crossing borders freely. Researcher James Barnett at the Hudson Institute points to JAS ties. This faction rivals ISWAP and hits hard in border zones.

Victims include Muslims who would not join the fighters. The violence hits all faiths. UN humanitarian chief Mohamed Malik Fall notes most of the 40,000 insurgency deaths are Muslims, often at mosques or markets.

"Security remains one of Nigeria’s major challenges. You can no longer associate it with a single region. It is almost everywhere."
— Mohamed Malik Fall, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator

Army spokesman Sani Uba said the Sambisa Forest raid recovered guns, food, and medicine from Boko Haram. Researcher Taiwo Adebayo at the Institute for Security Studies called it a shift to offense.

US help includes flights for intelligence since November. President Donald Trump has spoken out, saying Nigeria fails to guard Christians. But UN officials say the fighting spares no group.

What This Means

These attacks show militants adapting to pressure. Army gains in the northeast push groups west. Lakurawa fills the gap, hitting civilians to spread fear. Remote villages pay the price, with aid slow to arrive.

The death toll strains Nigeria's resources. Over 2 million displaced people need food and shelter. Schools close, farms empty, and trade stops in affected areas. Kwara's strikes add to kidnappings in the north-central zones.

Troops now hunt Lakurawa in border forests. US strikes in Sokoto state killed over 100 fighters, locals say. But the group hit back harder on civilians. Without steady operations, experts warn of more blood.

Nigeria's leaders face calls for more action. Governors push for better gear and border control. The mix of jihadists, bandits, and rivals makes peace hard. Violence touches every corner, from mosques to markets.

International eyes stay on Nigeria. US moves signal worry over spread to neighbors. Aid groups call the crisis Africa's biggest hidden emergency. Millions wait for safety as fighters roam free.