President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed federal and state agencies to work closely to provide immediate relief and humanitarian support to communities affected by the recent deadly terrorist attack in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The President gave the directive on Thursday evening in a statement posted on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, stressing that the collaboration would also ensure that those responsible for the attack are pursued and brought to justice.
“I have further directed close collaboration between federal and state agencies to provide immediate support and relief to the affected community and to ensure that those responsible for this atrocity are pursued and brought to justice,” Tinubu said.
He disclosed that he had earlier met with the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, who briefed him on the incident in Kaiama LGA.
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Condemning the attack in strong terms, the President described the assailants as heartless for targeting defenceless villagers.
“I condemn in the strongest terms this cowardly and beastly attack. The gunmen are heartless for choosing soft targets in their doomed campaign of terror,” he stated, adding that the actions of the attackers were an affront to the nation’s shared values and faith.
“Their actions offend our humanity, our faith, and our shared values as a nation,” he said.
Tinubu revealed that an army battalion had been immediately deployed to the affected area to restore security and prevent further attacks.
“Yesterday, I directed the immediate deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State following the horrific attack on innocent villagers in Worro. This new military command will spearhead Operation Savannah Shield to checkmate these barbaric terrorists and protect defenceless communities,” the President said.
He noted that the attack was particularly disturbing as the victims were reportedly killed for rejecting forced indoctrination, praising the community members for resisting extremist ideology.
“It is commendable that the community members, even though Muslims, refused to be conscripted into a weird belief that promoted violence over peace and dialogue. Nigeria will never surrender its people to extremism and terrorism masquerading as faith,” Tinubu declared.
The President extended his condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Kwara State, assuring them of the Federal Government’s support.
“I pray for the repose of the souls of the departed and extend my deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones. I also sympathise with the people and government of Kwara State. The Federal Government stands with you,” he said, pledging that the government would protect communities and defeat those seeking to divide the country through terror.
Meanwhile, a day after the Kaiama attack, the Federal Government commenced the distribution of Presidential Emergency Food and Nutrition items in Borno State as part of a broader intervention to address food insecurity and humanitarian challenges across northern Nigeria.
The exercise was formally flagged off in Maiduguri on Thursday, January 5, 2026, by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard M. Doro, at Ramat Square.
Speaking at the event, Doro said the intervention was designed to provide immediate relief to vulnerable households affected by years of conflict, displacement and economic hardship.
“Today’s intervention is not just emergency relief. It is a decisive and coordinated step to stabilise nutrition, protect lives and restore hope,” he said.
He explained that the Presidential Emergency Food and Nutrition Intervention covers 10 northern states, including Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Benue, Niger, Plateau, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi.
According to the minister, Borno State received one of the largest allocations under the programme due to its humanitarian needs. The items include 8,565 bags each of millet, rice and maize; 8,565 units of groundnut oil; 1,429 cartons of palm oil; 8,565 units of tom brown; 171 cartons of tomato paste; 611 cartons of seasoning cubes; 107 bags of salt; and assorted essential medicines.
Commending the resilience of the people of Borno, Doro said the intervention represented more than food aid, describing it as “sustenance, dignity and renewed hope.”
He urged beneficiaries to use the items judiciously, particularly for children, pregnant women and the elderly, and assured that the distribution would be closely monitored to ensure transparency.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Olubunmi Olusanya, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to a transparent and accountable distribution process.
The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Umar Usman Kadafur, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, describing the intervention as timely and compassionate. He assured that the state government would work closely with federal authorities to ensure smooth distribution across all local government areas.
The event was attended by senior government officials, commissioners, development partners and representatives of humanitarian agencies.
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