A former Kwara Governor and Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has described the killing of over 100 people in Woro community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, as a national disaster, calling for immediate and decisive federal intervention to address worsening insecurity in the state.
Saraki, who posted the statement via his Facebook on Wednesday, said the scale of violence in parts of Kwara State, particularly in the northern and southern senatorial districts, had gone beyond the capacity of the state government to handle.
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“Yesterday’s killing of over 100 people in Woro community, Kaiama Local Government Area, is a national disaster. What we are witnessing in parts of Kwara State—particularly in the northern and southern senatorial districts—has gone beyond the capacity of the state government and now requires decisive, direct federal intervention”.
“What we require now to stop this mass destruction of lives and properties in our state and to restore harmony is the decisive and direct intervention from President Tinubu”, Saraki said in a statement.
He further urged the Commander-in-Chief to direct the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Second Mechanised Infantry Division, Ibadan, to second his men to deploy into the troubled districts of Kwara State fully and to establish a base in the affected areas.
“There is also the need for other security agencies to work together and have a strong presence across our state. That is the only way we can deter these assailants. The insurgents who are running away from the firepower of the security agencies in other states in the North Central zone should not be allowed to find a comfort zone in Kwara State”.
He noted that Kwara State is too strategic to this country that we should not allow insurgency to gain ground there, adding that it is a state located in the middle of the country and serves as a bridge between the North and the Southwest. It also has an international border with the Republic of Benin and shares borders with many other states.
He sympathized with the Woro community, especially the families that lost their loved ones, praying that Almighty Allah (SWT)comforted them and granted them the strength and fortitude to bear the loss. Also, may He heal all the wounded.
Saraki, however, stated that we should not limit our reaction to this sad development to mere press comments.
“We should ensure that this violence against our people does not happen again anywhere in Kwara State. While the Federal Government should move strongly to protect people across the state, the state government and its respective local government councils should play their part”.
“Kwara State has not always been this unsafe. The state has always been a peaceful place, and that is why it earned the sobriquet ‘State of Harmony’. Unfortunately, things have gone this badly. The level of killings, arson, and displacement of people that we are witnessing now is unprecedented”.
“There must be decisive measures to stop this orchestrated violence against the people. It is an unfortunate situation. This attack in Woro is a national emergency. What these criminals did in Woro was to wage war against Nigeria. It is a war the country must win, without delay. May Almighty Allah (SWT) give our country victory over these non-state actors”, he added.
