*Respects Nigeria’s Sovereignty
Tinubu Dispatches Soldiers To Kwara After Bandits Massacre Over 100 On Bloody Tuesday
*Terrorists Kill 75 Lives In Kwara, 21 In Katsina, 16 In Benue
*70 Get Mass Buria In Kaiama
*Survivors Recount Ordeal
THE Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has addressed concerns over the deployment or presence of United States (US) troops in Nigeria, clarifying that their presence is limited to intelligence support and training, as part of ongoing bilateral cooperation to combat terrorism and insurgency in the country.
Recall that the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) , on Tuesday, February 3, confirmed the deployment of a small team of US military personnel to Nigeria.
AFRICOM Commander, Gen. Dagvin Anderson, told journalists in Dakar, Senegal, that the deployment was made at Nigeria’s request and was focused strictly on intelligence assistance, adding: “Our partnership with Nigeria is a great example of a willing and capable ally that requested unique capabilities only the United States can provide.”
The top general said the US team was sent after both countries agreed that more needed to be done to combat the terrorist threat in West Africa, adding: “That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small US team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States.”
Anderson did not provide further details about the size and scope of their mission.
Following increasing concerns over Nigeria’s sovereignty, Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), told the BBC that the US personnel were not combat troops. but a small advisory team supporting intelligence gathering and training initiatives, without disclosing details of the size of the team, their arrival date, location or duration of stay.
In further reaction to the concerns, the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Gen. Samaila Uba, on behalf of the DHQ, in a statement on Thursday, February 5, clarified that Nigeria and the US maintain a long-standing, structured security partnership built on mutual respect.
He stated that the cooperation centres on capacity building, professional military education, intelligence sharing, logistics support and strategic dialogue, all aimed at tackling shared threats, such as terrorism and transnational organised crime.
According to him: “All engagements are conducted in full respect of Nigeria’s sovereignty and in accordance with existing bilateral frameworks.”
Uba insisted that all of Nigeria’s defence partnerships, including those with international partners, are guided by national interest, measurable outcomes and strict respect for sovereignty.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain fully committed to safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity, while working with credible partners in ways that strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture without compromising national independence,” he said.
The clarification came amid rising terrorism, as gunmen, in brazen attacks in Kwara, Katsina and Benue states, killed over 100 residents between Tuesday, February 3 and Wednesday, February 4.
In Kwara, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Wednesday said about 75 people were massacred during the Tuesday attack by suspected terrorists in Woro and Nuku communities of Kaiama Local Council.
In response, President Bola Tinubu directed the immediate deployment of an Army battalion to the council to spearhead Operation Savannah Shield, a reinforced security initiative designed to flush out criminal elements, prevent further incursions and restore confidence among vulnerable rural communities in the area.
While describing the attack as cowardly and inhumane for targeting unarmed villagers and attempting to spread fear through indiscriminate violence, saying the Federal Government would not allow any part of the country to become a sanctuary for terror or intimidation.
The President expressed particular outrage that the attackers targeted residents who resisted attempts at forced indoctrination and chose peaceful religious practice over extremist ideology, adding: “It is commendable that the people stood firm in their convictions and rejected doctrines that glorify violence over dialogue and coexistence.”
Insisting that Nigeria’s diversity of faiths and cultures must never be exploited by violent groups, Tinubu called for close coordination among federal security agencies, the Kwara State Government and local authorities to provide urgent relief for affected families, strengthen intelligence gathering and ensure that perpetrators of the atrocity are swiftly apprehended and prosecuted.
He directed relevant humanitarian agencies to support survivors and assist the community in rebuilding efforts, even as he prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and extended condolences to bereaved families, assuring them of the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property nationwide.
AbdulRazaq, speaking during a sympathy visit to the Emir of Kaiama, Muazu Omar, and the families of those affected, described the incident as unfortunate, assuring, however, that the state government would continue to redouble efforts to ensure the protection of lives and property.
Chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Abubabar Abdullahi Danladi, on a visit to the affected communities on Wednesday afternoon, disclosed that 70 victims were given mass burial on Wednesday afternoon at Woro community.
One of the survivors and the head of Woro Village, Umar Saliu Tanko, told the council chairman that he was not at home at the arrival of the bandits, who in anger, killed his daughter, two sons and abducted his younger wife, with two other persons.
He recounted: “I was away in my shop where I’m selling goods when army of bandits arrived my residence Tuesday evening.
“My daughter and two sons were shot dead, while my second wife and two others were abducted.”
Another survivor, Razaq Abdulazee, said he had a house at the outskirts of the town and was returning home late in the afternoon when he saw people running towards the outskirts of the town towards his area.
“I asked what happened and was told that they were running to escape the wrath of bandits who came to attack the community.
“I increased my speed to my house, packed my family members and we escaped to the far bush in the outskirts of the town.
“Many people who couldn’t ran out of town escaped to the top of trees to avoid bandits attack,” he recounted.
A resident told Premium Times from hiding that a search-and-rescue team, escorted by military personnel and forest guards, had counted at least 170 bodies by Wednesday, adding: “They also stole Umar’s Jeep and used it to transport some of the kidnapped victims into the forest.”
Another said: “We have been in the bush since yesterday (Tuesday). The gunfire continued until this morning (Wednesday).”
A member of the Kwara State Emirate Council said the district head forwarded the letter to the council in Ilorin, which subsequently requested the deployment of soldiers to Woro, leading to the deployment of a team of soldiers, who withdrew after some weeks without any incident.
As a decoy, the terrorists moved to Baburasa, a neighbouring community about 20 kilometres away: “They went to Baburasa and preached to the people there about three weeks ago.
“They even mentioned communities they planned to attack, but they did not mention Woro.
“As of now, we do not know the whereabouts of the district head.”
The attack occured five months after Boko Haram terrorists reportedly sent a letter to Umar, notifying him of their intention to visit the community for preaching.
The attackers, who reportedly came from forest bordering Niger State, stormed the communities at about 6 p.m. on Tuesday and continued into the early hours of Wednesday, firing sporadically, setting houses, shops and parts of Umar’s residence on fire and abducting an unspecified number of women and children moved from house to house, with residents fleeing into surrounding bushes.
Abdulrazaq condemned the incident as a “cowardly” reprisal by criminal groups facing sustained security pressure and ordered intensified joint operations across the affected areas, with deployment of additional troops and Police personnel to rescue victims and go after the attackers.
Woro, located on the fringes of Kainji National Park, a vast forest reserve covering about 5,341 square kilometres, has gradually becoming a Boko Haram and Ansaru (also called Mamuda) hideout.
In Benue State, bandits killed i6 villagers and a Mobile Police officer who was the unit commander on duty at the time of an attack on a rural market in Abande settlement of Mbaikyor Ward, Turan District of Kwande Local Council.
It was gathered that the Tuesday attack occured on a busy Abande market day. A former supervisory councillor in Kwande, Akerigba Lawrence, disclosed that the attackers opened fire on traders and residents, killing several people on the spot and looting shops and carting away cash and goods worth Over N150million before setting the entire market ablaze.
Lawrence explained that bodies of some of the victims had been evacuated to Jato-Aka by personnel of the Mobile Police Force stationed in the area, while several other residents were missing.
Abande community and surrounding settlements are located close to the Nigeria-Cameroun border.
State Police Command spokesperson, Udeme Edet (DSP), confirmed four deaths in the attack, saying: “On 3rd February, 2026, about 5:30pm, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Jato-Aka, received a distress call that suspected armed herder bandits, in large numbers, had attacked Police personnel stationed at Abande Community, as well as members of the community.
“During the ensuing confrontation, while Police operatives were responding to the distress call, one Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to 13 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Makurdi, who was on special duty at Abande Community, was fatally injured.
“Regrettably, four members of the community also lost their lives as a result of the attack by the bandits.
“Following the incident, combined teams of police operatives and other security agencies have been mobilised to the area to secure the community, conduct a thorough search and forestall further breakdown of law and order.
“The deceased persons have been recovered and deposited at the mortuary.”
At least another 21 persons were killed in an attack on Doma village in Katsina State.
