The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Thursday, said Islamic jihadists massacred about 200 people in coordinated attacks on Woro and neighbouring communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Samaila Uba, the Defence Headquarters said jihadists raided and slaughtered hundreds after their proposal to indoctrinate members of the community was resisted.

“It will be recalled that terrorists entered Woro village of Kaiama Local government of Kwara state with a request to conduct a preaching and indoctrination session in the village which was outrightly rejected by the villagers,” the statement said.

It added, “The military was informed and promptly troops were despatched to dominate the general areas with robust patrols and surveillance among other security measures for about two weeks. The cowardly terrorists however, returned weeks after to kill innocent citizens in protest and in a bid to terrorise inhabitants and others.”

The Defence Headquarters urged all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic, religious or regional identity, to resist any form of ideological indoctrination by violent extremist groups, which seek to impose their twisted beliefs through terror and intimidation.

The massacre of about 200 people in Kwara has sparked reactions across Nigeria, attracting global media attention.

President Bola Tinubu has deployed security agencies to the affected communities.

Amnesty International, on Wednesday, condemned the killing of more than 200 people in separate incidents, which occurred on Tuesday, February 3, in Kwara and Katsina States.

“Amnesty International strongly condemns the attacks on rural communities in Kwara and Katsina state on Tuesday 3 February 2026, in which gunmen killed over 200 people. Many of those killed were shot at close range and some were burnt alive,” the organisation said in a statement on Wednesday.