By Ghazali Ibrahim
A handwritten letter allegedly sent by Boko Haram weeks before a brutal assault on villages in Kwara State has emerged as residents and witnesses continue to mourn one of the deadliest attacks in recent memory.
The militants, formally identified with Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), reportedly framed the letter as a request to come and “preach and guide” community members, days before storming the Woro and Nuku villages and killing over 100 civilians.
The letter, dated January 8, 2026, was written in Hausa and addressed to the traditional ruler of Woro, offering a seemingly peaceful meeting but concealing the assailants’ deadly intentions, survivors told reporters.
After the letter was received, its contents were reportedly shared with local authorities and security services, though villagers say no effective action was taken before the massacre.
On February 4, the suspected jihadists attacked in large numbers, shooting residents, burning homes and forcing many to flee into nearby bushland.
Estimates of the death toll vary, with some official counts citing at least 162 confirmed fatalities and the total potentially higher as searches continue.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq has condemned the attacks and described the killings as the work of extremists, while the federal government has deployed military units under Operation Savannah Shield to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further atrocities.
Local residents have criticized authorities, saying the pre-attack warnings were ignored. One villager said the letter should have prompted earlier intervention, suggesting the tragedy might have been prevented with timely action.
The emergence of the letter has intensified calls for accountability and a more robust security response as communities grapple with grief and the broader implications of expanding militant activity in central Nigeria.
