Kwara Attack: VP Shettima Pledges FG Support

N Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Saturday paid a condolence visit to Kwara State following the recent terrorist attack in Woro, Kaiama Local Government Area, which claimed at least 75 lives. The Vice President, who was received by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the Ahmadu Bello House, Ilorin, said the Federal Government stands in solidarity with the people of Kwara over the tragic incident.

Speaking during the visit, Shettima described the attack as an unacceptable violation of the victims’ right to peaceful worship, noting that the scale of the carnage shocked Nigerians. He said the affected communities had for centuries practised a tolerant form of Islam, adding that the violence was driven by extremist beliefs alien to the history and traditions of Kaiama, Baruten, and the wider Batonu-speaking areas.

The Vice President conveyed the condolences of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the government and people of Kwara, disclosing that a battalion of the Nigerian Army has been deployed to Kaiama and its environs to restore peace. He also said the President had directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to mobilise relief materials in partnership with the state government to support affected communities.

Governor AbdulRazaq commended President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for their swift response, including the immediate deployment of soldiers and police tactical teams. He confirmed that troops under Operation Savannah Shield, alongside senior police officers and NEMA officials, are already on ground to prevent a recurrence, adding that the Federal Government’s intervention has been timely and reassuring.

Also speaking, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, sympathised with the people of Kwara and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls. Traditional rulers and local government officials, including the Emir of Kaiama, HRH Alhaji Muazu Sheu Omar, thanked the President for his support and appreciated Governor AbdulRazaq and the Vice President for their visits and prompt actions.