ANKARA — Türkiye has strongly condemned a terrorist attack in Nigeria’s Kwara State that claimed at least 170 lives, expressing deep sorrow over the loss and reaffirming its commitment to supporting Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, February 5, 2026, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote:
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives caused by the terrorist attack that took place in Nigeria's Kwara state. We extend our condolences to the families of the victims and to the brotherly people of Nigeria. Türkiye stands in solidarity with Nigeria and will continue to support the country in its fight against terrorism.”
The attack occurred on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, when armed assailants stormed the remote villages of Woro and Nuku in Kaiama Local Government Area, near the border with Niger. Survivors and local officials described a coordinated assault in which gunmen—reportedly numbering around 100—rounded up residents, bound their hands, executed them at close range, set homes ablaze, looted shops, and abducted several individuals, including at least 35 women.
The death toll has been reported as high as 170 by local sources, with search teams continuing to recover bodies from surrounding bushland and forests. On Wednesday, February 4, authorities confirmed that 75 victims were buried in a mass grave following Islamic rites. Kwara State lawmakers and community leaders have warned that the final count may rise further as recovery efforts persist.
The incident has been described by Nigerian officials as one of the deadliest single attacks in recent years in the region. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the massacre as a “cowardly and barbaric” act, attributing it to Boko Haram and other terrorist elements retaliating against communities that rejected extremist demands. He ordered the immediate deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama to secure the area, protect vulnerable settlements, and pursue the perpetrators.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited the affected communities, describing the killings as a “pure massacre” and a sign of desperation among terrorist groups under pressure from military operations in neighboring regions.
The attack underscores the escalating security challenges in Kwara State, particularly in communities bordering dense forest belts. In recent months, the area has witnessed increased banditry, mass kidnappings for ransom, and the movement of armed groups—including jihadist factions—fleeing intensified counterterrorism campaigns in Nigeria’s northwest and north-central zones. These forests have become hideouts and transit corridors for criminal and extremist elements, heightening vulnerability in rural border communities.
Türkiye’s condemnation aligns with earlier statements from Benin and the African Union, both of which denounced the attack as heinous and barbaric, expressed solidarity with Nigeria, and pledged continued support in the regional struggle against terrorism and violent extremism.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry’s message reflects Türkiye’s longstanding partnership with Nigeria on security matters. Over the years, Türkiye has provided military training, equipment, and intelligence cooperation to help Nigeria combat insurgency, particularly in the northeast where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) remain active. The statement also underscores Türkiye’s broader commitment to supporting African nations in addressing cross-border threats to peace and stability.
No group has officially claimed responsibility for the Kwara attack, though authorities have pointed to Boko Haram or affiliated factions based on the tactics used and the region’s recent security trends. Nigerian security forces are actively pursuing the attackers, many of whom reportedly fled toward border areas.
The tragedy has drawn widespread domestic and international outrage, with calls for stronger border security, enhanced rural protection measures, and sustained regional cooperation to dismantle terrorist networks and address underlying drivers of violence, including poverty, unemployment, and weak governance in frontier zones.
As search and recovery operations continue and displaced survivors receive humanitarian assistance, Türkiye’s expression of solidarity adds to a growing chorus of international support for Nigeria’s efforts to restore peace and security in the affected region.
