bauchi, nigeria
Reuters
—
At least 170 people were killed in an attack by an armed group on a remote village in Nigeria’s central Kwara state, a local lawmaker told Reuters on Wednesday, as authorities and soldiers continued to search for survivors in nearby bushland.
It was the worst attack recorded this year in the district, which borders Niger state and is increasingly targeted by armed groups who attack villages, kidnap residents and plunder livestock.
Gunmen attacked Wollo, forcing villagers to flee into the surrounding bushland, MP Saidu Baba Ahmed told Reuters by phone.
Ahmed said the gunmen rounded up residents, tied their hands behind their backs and executed them. The lawmaker shared photos of the body with Reuters, but authorities could not immediately confirm it.
In Tuesday’s attack, the assailants also set fire to homes and shops.
“As I speak now, I am in the village with military personnel, sorting the bodies and combing the surrounding area for further searches,” Ahmed said.
Several people were still missing as of Wednesday morning.
Residents told Reuters that the gunmen appeared to be jihadists who frequently preached in the village, demanding that locals renounce allegiance to the Nigerian state and switch to Sharia, Islamic law. When villagers resisted, the gunmen opened fire during a sermon on Tuesday.
Kwara Police Spokesman Adetun Ejire Adayem said police and military were in the area for search and rescue operations, but did not give details of casualties.
Nigeria has been under pressure to restore security since last year, when US President Donald Trump accused the country of failing to protect Christians following a number of Islamist attacks and mass kidnappings. The US military attacked a suspected terrorist target on December 25th.
Nigerian authorities say they are cooperating with the United States to improve security and deny systematic persecution of Christians.
