Woro attack: how Sahel-linked terror networks are creeping into Kwara’s border communities

By: Zagazola Makama

The deadly attack on Woro Village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, which has claimed at least 35 lives, draws attention to a worrying expansion of Sahel-linked terrorism into Nigeria’s North-Central corridor, analysts say.

The lawmaker representing Kaiama in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Saidu Baba Ahmed, confirmed the death toll on Wednesday, adding that many residents were still missing in the surrounding bush after fleeing the community during the attack.

Security sources said the assault occurred at about 7:07 p.m. on Feb. 3, when terrorists suspected to be Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) stormed Woro, setting houses and shops ablaze as residents fled in panic.

Although the attackers reportedly withdrew after spotting an approaching aircraft, intelligence suggests they may still be lurking in nearby forests, waiting for security pressure to ease before attempting to return.

The Woro incident fits a broader pattern. Terrorist operations have intensified across the North-West (NW) and North-Central (NC), with attacks spilling into border communities near the Republic of Benin, particularly in Kwara and Niger States.

Security experts say fighters infiltrating from the Sahel axis have merged with local criminal groups, creating hybrid networks that combine ideological violence with banditry. Two major groupings – JNIM/AQIM and IS Sahel are said to be competing for space, carving out forest corridors and borderlands as launch pads for further attacks.

While parts of the North West are experiencing encroachment by ISIS-linked elements along Niger’s borders with Sokoto and Kebbi, JNIM’s operational reach reportedly stretches from the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Forest Complex into Benin, diverting into North-Central Nigeria through porous routes.

Zagazola note that Kaiama’s location close to forested border corridors makes it vulnerable to transit and staging by mobile terror cells. Once embedded, these groups exploit local grievances, criminal economies and weak surveillance to sustain operations.

The burning of homes and shops in Woro is seen as tactical messaging: displace communities, disrupt local economies and demonstrate reach beyond traditional theatres of conflict.

The Woro attack is not an isolated Kwara problem but part of a wider Sahelian security crisis pushing southward into Nigeria’s heartland. Regional cooperation between NIGERIA with BENIN and NIGER Republic is therefore required to shut down these cross-border routes.

Woro attack: how Sahel-linked terror networks are creeping into Kwara’s border communities

KACRAN Appeals for Resolution of Diplomatic Tensions Between Nigeria and Niger

By: Michael Mike

The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has called on President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the Republic of Niger to resolve ongoing diplomatic tensions through dialogue and mutual understanding.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National President, Hon. Khalil Bello, the association urged both countries to restore their long-standing relationship, stressing that Nigeria and Niger share deep historical, cultural and economic ties that predate colonial boundaries.

KACRAN highlighted that the two nations are connected by an extensive border stretching over 1,600 kilometres, linking Niger with several northern Nigerian states, noting that communities across the border share common ethnic identities, languages and religious beliefs, with many families divided between both countries.

The group noted that these close social connections were a major reason many residents of Northern Nigeria expressed opposition to any form of military action against Niger following the recent political changes in the country.

Beyond social ties, KACRAN emphasized the existence of strong economic interdependence between the two neighbours. It stated that Nigerian markets, especially in Kano and border towns, serve as major commercial hubs for Nigerien traders, while Nigerian business activities are also prominent within Niger.

The association warned that the current strain in diplomatic relations is having a negative impact on trade and pastoral livelihoods. It explained that seasonal livestock migration, particularly by herders from states such as Yobe who move into Niger during the rainy season to avoid farmland conflicts, has been disrupted. This disruption, KACRAN said, affected livestock supply during the recent Eid-el-Kabir festivities.

KACRAN also stressed the need for joint security efforts, noting that challenges such as insurgency and banditry affect both countries and require coordinated action rather than isolation.

Calling for restraint, the association urged Nigeria, Niger and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to prioritize diplomacy over confrontation. It maintained that peaceful engagement remains the most effective path to stability, economic growth and regional security.

The group appealed to leaders in the sub-region to place the welfare of citizens above political disagreements and preserve the spirit of cooperation that has long defined Nigeria-Niger relations.

KACRAN Appeals for Resolution of Diplomatic Tensions Between Nigeria and Niger

Army troops foil bandits’ attack on anyagba village in benue

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Army troops of the Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have foiled a planned attack by armed bandits on Anyagba village in Benue State, neutralising one assailant and recovering a firearm and ammunition.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the joint team,comprising Army, PMF elements and state-backed civil protection guards, was alerted at about 4:00 p.m. to the movement of armed bandits toward Anyagba community, apparently with intent to launch an attack.

“The troops mobilised immediately toward the Utange axis where the bandits were sighted,” the source said.

“On sighting the joint team, the bandits opened fire, leading to a brief exchange. One suspect was fatally wounded during the encounter and later died while being evacuated for medical attention.”

The source said the corpse was deposited at a morgue, while the remaining suspects fled into nearby bushes.

Items recovered at the scene include one AK-47 rifle with breech number 22446, two magazines, three rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and several expended shells.

“No casualty was recorded on the side of the joint forces,” the source added.

Following the incident, troops intensified combing operations in surrounding bushes to track and apprehend the fleeing suspects.

In a related development along the Katsina-Ala axis, a patrol team on stop-and-search duty recovered a locally fabricated pistol and a cartridge from a bag abandoned by a suspect who escaped on sighting the troops.

The military urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to provide timely information to security agencies to help prevent attacks and protect communities across the state.

Army troops foil bandits’ attack on anyagba village in benue