International Call for Probe into Woro Killings Amidst Escalating Nigerian Insecurity
Abuja, Nigeria – A prominent presidential aspirant and former presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has issued a strong call for an independent international investigation into the recent massacre in the Woro community, Kwara State. He has specifically urged the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights to scrutinize allegations that crucial intelligence warnings about the impending attack were deliberately ignored.
In a statement released on Sunday, Olawepo-Hashim articulated that mere expressions of sympathy are no longer adequate in the face of such widespread and brutal violence. He condemned the killings, which he characterized as a stark and disturbing manifestation of Nigeria’s deteriorating rural security situation and a profound failure of the state’s protective mandate.
The scale of the attack, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of nearly 200 individuals, has, according to Olawepo-Hashim, laid bare significant vulnerabilities within Nigeria’s security apparatus. He pointed to a critical inability of authorities to mount a swift and effective response to distress signals emanating from remote and vulnerable communities.
“This killing is unprecedented in its scale and unmatched in its barbarity,” Olawepo-Hashim stated. “I offer my condolences to the Woro community, but condolence is not enough this time around.”
The presidential aspirant’s demand for an international inquiry stems from his assertion that the Woro incident highlights how easily armed groups can inflict mass casualties with seemingly little to no resistance. He raised pointed questions about the absence of aerial intervention during the attack, particularly given Nigeria’s known air power capabilities in the Wawa–New Bussa axis, an area less than a 15-minute flight from Woro.
Furthermore, Olawepo-Hashim drew a stark contrast between the perceived inaction in Woro and Nigeria’s past demonstrated capacity for rapid military responses in international contexts. He cited the nation’s interventions in Sierra Leone and Liberia as examples of its ability to effectively quell violence and protect civilian populations.
“The Nigerian Army stopped killings in Sierra Leone and Liberia before. Why then can it not stop the slaughter of Nigerians in their own communities?” he questioned, underscoring a perceived disparity in the state’s protective efforts.
Adding a layer of grave concern, Olawepo-Hashim highlighted reports indicating that the perpetrators of the Woro massacre had allegedly issued prior threat letters. This, coupled with reports of troops being withdrawn from the area, has fueled serious questions about accountability and decision-making at higher levels.
“Nigerians deserve to know who ordered that withdrawal and why,” he insisted, issuing a stern warning that a continued pattern of failing to protect rural populations could inadvertently push residents towards dangerous avenues of self-help, vigilantism, and potentially, ethnic profiling.
Key Demands and Concerns Raised:
- International Investigation: A call for a UN-led probe into the killings.
- Intelligence Scrutiny: Examination of why intelligence warnings were allegedly ignored.
- Security Architecture Flaws: Highlighting the inability to respond to rural distress calls.
- Accountability for Troop Withdrawal: Demand for clarity on who ordered and why troops were removed prior to the attack.
- Consequences of Neglect: Warning of potential rise in vigilantism and ethnic profiling.
Olawepo-Hashim concluded by emphasizing that the Woro killings must not be allowed to become a normalized event. He urged the Federal Government, the Nigerian Air Force, and all relevant security agencies to provide a comprehensive operational account. This account, he stressed, should include precise timelines of distress calls received and clear explanations for the lack of aerial deployment during the critical hours of the attack.
The Woro community, situated in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, was subjected to a brutal assault by heavily armed gunmen on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The attack, which also affected neighbouring Nuku, resulted in the tragic loss of nearly 200 lives, according to multiple credible reports. In response to the devastating incident, the Federal Government has since deployed military personnel to the affected communities in an effort to restore order and prevent any retaliatory actions.
