February 7, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
Community leaders in Woro, a village in Kaiama Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State, Nigeria, have said that authorities still cannot ascertain the exact number of worshippers killed inside a church during the recent deadly assault on the community, Dalena Reporters has learned. The comments come amid ongoing investigations into a wider attack that left scores of villagers dead and widespread destruction.
Speaking in an interview on News Central TV, the head of Woro, Salihu [surname not specified in official release], confirmed that gunmen operated in the area for many hours before security forces could reach the scene. The prolonged violence, he said, has made it difficult for local authorities to provide a precise count of worshippers who may have been killed inside the church during the raids.
Earlier reports from residents and local officials indicated that the broader attack on Woro and adjacent Nuku village resulted in the deaths of over 100 civilians, with houses burned and property destroyed. Initial figures varied widely as local sources pieced together the aftermath, with some putting the toll at roughly 162 people and others suggesting the numbers could be higher as recovery efforts continued.
The community verbally confirmed that the assailants struck multiple locations, including public spaces and homes, before attacking worshippers but the exact circumstances and casualties inside the church have not been established, according to Salihu’s remarks. Security operatives have yet to release an official breakdown of deaths by location or context.
The uncertainty has contributed to heightened anxiety among residents and families searching for missing loved ones still unaccounted for in the wake of the raids. Many locals are awaiting more detailed official updates, while a military deployment ordered by President Bola Tinubu has been mobilised in the broader region as authorities seek to restore a measure of security after the bloodshed.
Civil society and human rights groups have called for transparent investigation into what transpired during the Woro assault, including clarification of casualty figures and circumstances of the violence particularly in sensitive locations such as places of worship where civilians may have sought refuge.