Dozens of people have been killed in a ferocious shooting attack on two villages in Nigeria's western state of Kwara, according to authorities and rights groups.
The attackers also set fire to shops and homes, along with the residence of the traditional leader, forcing the residents of Nuku and Woro to flee, local lawmaker Saidu Baba Ahmed told BBC Hausa.
Officials have blamed jihadist groups and deployed an army battalion to Kwara's Kaiama constituency.
Tuesday's attack, one of several across Nigeria in the last few days, comes as the country's defense minister confirmed to the BBC that a small team of US troops was in the country to help with intelligence and training.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said Islamist militant group Boko Haram was behind the attack. Local lawmaker Mohammed Omar Bio stated that Lakurawa, an armed group affiliated with Islamic State, was responsible, according to the Associated Press.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq stated that 75 local Muslims were massacred in cold blood simply for refusing to surrender to extremists who preached a strange doctrine.
Ahmed initially informed BBC Hausa that at least 35 people had died, but human rights groups have since reported more than four times that number of deaths.
A Red Cross official in Kwara, Babaomo Ayodeji, told AFP that reports said that the death toll now stands at 162, as the search for more bodies continues.
Amnesty International stated in a statement that over 170 people had died, noting that many were shot at close range and some burned alive.
Several individuals were abducted during the attack; the human rights group emphasized the pressing need for an investigation.
Additionally, 21 people were killed in a separate attack on Doma village in the state of Katsina.
The surge in violence aligns with the first official acknowledgment from Nigeria of an American troop presence since US President Donald Trump ordered military preparations in November aimed at combating Islamist militant groups.
Defense Minister Chrisopher Musa did not provide specifics regarding the team’s size, arrival date, location, or duration of stay.
Gen Dagvin Anderson from US Africa Command commented on the deployment, highlighting it was in response to a Nigerian request focused on intelligence support. Our partnership with Nigeria is a great example of a very willing and capable partner who requested the unique capabilities that only the US can bring, he expressed.
Nigeria faces a variety of security challenges, including criminal gangs, Islamist insurgency, and separatist unrest, adding complexities to the nation's peace-building efforts.
Kwara police spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi blamed suspected bandits for the violence, and local officials indicate that security forces have been deployed to the affected area.
The governor attributed the attack to a distraction from recent successful counter-terrorism operations targeting gang activities.
This devastating incident highlights the urgent need for enhanced security measures and cooperation to protect vulnerable communities.
