By Abubakar Tukur Ibrahim The concerns expressed regarding the Lambar Rimi Wind Farm are legitimate. Every Katsina citizen wants to see the turbines turning and electricity flowing into homes, businesses, industries, and communities. However, while it is easy to recount the history of the project, it is equally important toContinue Reading
Four months after one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in recent memory struck the Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, signs of life are gradually returning. Through the stories of survivors, Musa Umar Bologi, who visited the community, chronicles the painful journey from displacement, loss and trauma to recovery and renewed hope. Fatima Bio sat beneath the shade where she sold local delicacies in Woro, an agrarian community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. For years, the business had sustained her and her six children, providing a steady source of income. On a good day, she made sales of more than ₦45,000, a livelihood she considered a blessing. But everything changed when terrorists invaded their area reportedly killing dozens of people across affected communities. Like many residents, Fatima fled for her life, abandoning her home, business, and possessions. After spending several weeks in New Bussa, Niger State, she finally returned to her ancestral home. Her return, like that of hundreds of other displaced residents, followed sustained military operations and security interventions that restored a measure of peace to the area. “I might not have recovered everything I lost, but I am picking up the pieces of my life,” Fatima said as she cradled her three-month-old baby and attended to customers at her modest food stall. “Before the attack by armed men, I used to sell out my food before noon. Now, it is already 2 p.m., and I haven’t sold even half of what I prepared. Although people are gradually returning, the market has yet to fully recover. But thank God the village is peaceful again, thanks to presence of the soldiers.” The gradual return of residents has also been aided by initiatives undertaken by the Kwara State Government, including the deployment of forest guards and enhanced support for local vigilante groups, measures that have helped reverse the tide of insecurity in the region. Like Fatima, Fausat Bello, a soft drink and vegetable trader, is gradually rebuilding her life; even though she is still recovering from the trauma of the attacks and the painful memories, she remains hopeful about the future. The return of relative peace has enabled her to resume her business and reconnect with her means of livelihood. Although economic activities have yet to fully recover, Fausat believes that stability will eventually restore the community’s vibrancy and help residents regain what they lost. “Business is still slow because many people have not yet returned,” said Fausat, looking towards the crates of soft drinks piling in front of her shop. “We are simply managing to survive. We fled the village after the attack and only recently returned from where we sought refuge. “My parents advised us to leave Woro permanently, but this is where I earn my livelihood. My husband also built our home here. There is nowhere else for us to go. “Our prayer is that, as peace gradually returns, more people will come back and life will begin to improve again. We hope the village will return to its former state, where peace and tranquillity prevailed.” She recalled that Woro was once a vibrant and prosperous community, where indigenes and visitors coexisted peacefully and pursued their livelihoods without fear. “Before the incident, this village was home to both indigenes and visitors, and everyone went about their daily activities without fear,” Fausat said. “Businesses were thriving, religious gatherings were taking place, weddings were being planned, and life was moving on normally. In fact, many people had made plans to celebrate Sallah in grand style this year. “Then the gunmen came and changed everything, destroying lives and shattering our plans.” The Day Fear Gripped Woro What began as an ordinary day in Woro community on February 3, 2026, ended in one of the deadliest attacks recorded in Kwara State in recent years. Residents had gone about their normal activities until about 5:30 p.m. when unfamiliar faces began entering the village from different directions. “Initially, we assumed the newcomers were security personnel,” said Shuaibu Bello, a pharmacist who runs a clinic in the community. “However, their unusual movements soon raised suspicion, prompting many residents to retreat into their homes.” Moments later, the attackers opened fire indiscriminately and set houses ablaze. By the time survivors emerged from hiding the following morning, more than 100 people had reportedly been killed, while several others had been abducted. The gruesome attack sparked widespread national and international condemnation. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, described the killings as “cowardly and beastly.” Where The Forest Meets Fear The tragedy in Woro and the neighbouring village of Nuku was not an isolated incident. Rather, it highlighted a growing pattern of insecurity across the country, where rural communities have increasingly come under attack from terrorists and armed criminal groups. Woro is located in Kaiama Local Government Area within Kwara North Senatorial District. The district comprises Kaiama, Moro, Edu, Baruten and Patigi local government areas. In recent months, the area has witnessed a series of terrorist and bandit attacks that have claimed lives, displaced residents and disrupted economic activities. Communities in Kaiama and Baruten have been particularly vulnerable to attacks allegedly carried out by terrorists operating from the fringes of the Kainji National Park. The attack is part of a wider pattern of insecurity that has impacted several communities in the region in recent years. Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, which shares a boundary with Kaiama, has experienced similar attacks in recent years. Both Borgu and Kaiama share significant geographical similarities. Communities in the two areas lie along the fringes of the Kainji National Park and within poorly governed border zones that armed groups have increasingly exploited as transit routes and operational bases. Security analysts say these difficult terrains, coupled with limited state presence, have enabled armed groups to move across state boundaries with relative ease. As a result, the killings in Woro represent more than a single act of violence. They underscore the broader security challenges facing communities around the Kainji Lake region and highlights the urgent need for sustained military operations, improved intelligence gathering and stronger community protection measures. Security Gains Amid Lingering Risks In the aftermath of the attack, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the deployment of an Army battalion to the troubled axis, a move aimed at shielding vulnerable communities and restoring public confidence. It was followed by the launch of Operation Savannah Shield, a special security operation designed to confront armed groups operating across Kwara North and parts of Niger State. The offensive brought an influx of military personnel, police units and National Forest Guards, backed by improved intelligence gathering and rapid-response mechanisms. Evidence of the renewed security push is difficult to miss. A journey from Kishi, the gateway to Kaiama, reveals a landscape under watch. Along the route, security and surveillance checkpoints dot the highway, while armed personnel patrol strategic locations, particularly around forest corridors that have long served as hideouts and escape routes for criminal groups. Their presence has brought a measure of reassurance to travellers and residents alike. Military authorities say sustained security operations under Operation Savannah Shield have significantly weakened the ability of terrorists and bandits to launch large-scale attacks on communities across Kwara North. According to the Commander 22 Brigade and Sector 1 Operation Savannah Shield, Brigadier-General Nicholas Rume, the operation has changed the security landscape, denying criminal groups the freedom they once enjoyed. “Since the launch of Savannah Shield, our deployments and operational posture have ensured that terrorists no longer have the freedom to move through villages and carry out attacks the way they used to,” he said. He explained that security forces have focused on pushing criminal elements away from populated areas and deeper into the forests. “We have continued to drive them as far away as possible from communities and human activities. The challenge in Kwara and neighbouring areas is the terrain. The vegetation is vast, and many communities are isolated,” Rume said. The commander noted that some villages are separated by several kilometres of dense forest, creating opportunities for criminals to strike and disappear before security forces can respond. “You can travel five kilometres through thick bush before reaching the next settlement. These communities are surrounded by forests, allowing criminals to enter a village and quickly escape. Even if they spend only a few minutes there, tracking them afterwards becomes extremely difficult.” To address the challenge, the military has increased troop deployments where possible and strengthened community-based security measures. “We have made significant efforts to improve security. While it is not practical to station soldiers in every community, we have increased troop presence and established dedicated hotlines for communities to report threats.” The strategy, he said, is yielding results. “There have been remarkable improvements. The number of kidnappings and attacks on villages has reduced drastically since February.” The military’s approach has also evolved from merely protecting communities to actively pursuing criminal groups in their hideouts. “We have reached a stage where we are not only pushing them out of towns but also pursuing them wherever they are hiding.” Despite the gains, the commander acknowledged that operations in difficult terrain come with risks. “Occasionally, there are setbacks. Troops can run into ambushes, and unfortunately, those risks are part of military operations.” He disclosed that some of the most dangerous situations arise when criminals receive support from local informants. “In some cases, troops have been lured into dangerous situations through false information. We once received reports that a village was under attack. Troops rushed to respond, but on their return, they were ambushed. We lost personnel in that incident.” Continue Reading
As the world marks the International Widows’ Day 2026, a non-governmental organisation, Helpline Social Support Initiative (HSSI), Abuja, has called for the recognition of widows strength, resilience, and invaluable contributions to their families, communities, and society. Widow’s Day is an awareness day of the United Nations that is observed throughoutContinue Reading
The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) His Eminence, Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Okoh, has encouraged sustained various engagements in nation-building beyond partisan politics. He made the remarks when a delegation of Christians in Politics (CiP) led by its National Coordinator, Dr. Hassana Shallangwa paid him an advocacyContinue Reading
By Jumai Ahmadu While much attention has been given to the remarkable transformation taking place within the city centre of Abuja, perhaps one of the most impactful achievements of the current Federal Capital Territory Administration under the leadership of the Minister, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, is the unprecedented expansion ofContinue Reading
By Ben Atonko Sankera stands at a crossroads. The next election is not just about filling a seat. It is about choosing a direction. In Lawrence Vihimga, the people of Katsina-Ala-Ukum-Logo Federal Constituency have a candidate who combines youthful energy with the wisdom of Methuselah. Age has not made it,Continue Reading
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By Lateef O. Aremu Just few days into his tenure, Nigeria’s new Minister of Power, Engineer Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has already begun to illuminate the path towards a more stable and efficient electricity supply for the nation. Sworn into office on June 9, 2026, Minister Tegbe’s initial pronouncements and decisiveContinue Reading
Who does Nigeria’s democracy truly belong to? Twenty-seven years after Nigeria’s return to democratic rule, one question continues to define our national journey: who does our democracy truly belong to? Nigeria today marks twenty-seven years of uninterrupted democratic governance. For a country of our complexity and history, this continuity reflectsContinue Reading
By Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed This is Part II of our celebration of Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda’s three years in office. We are grateful to the good people of Katsina State for the warm reception of Part I, where we documented his groundbreaking work in health, education, security, agriculture, infrastructure,Continue Reading