President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate deployment of an Army battalion to Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State following a deadly overnight assault on communities in the Worro axis, where suspected Boko Haram elements killed several residents.
The directive, which also authorises the appointment of a field commander and the commencement of a fresh military campaign, was announced on Wednesday by the President’s spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the newly established command will lead Operation Savannah Shield, a security initiative designed to neutralise the insurgents, reinforce military presence in the area and safeguard vulnerable rural communities. Troops have also been mandated to support relief efforts and help restore normalcy in the affected settlements.
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President Tinubu strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a brutal assault on defenceless civilians. He criticised the assailants for targeting innocent villagers and attempting to impose extremist beliefs through violence.
The President noted that members of the affected communities were killed for resisting forced indoctrination and for practising a form of Islam that rejects extremism and bloodshed. He commended their courage in standing against violent ideology, despite the grave risks involved.
He further called for close cooperation among federal and state security agencies to ensure urgent assistance reaches the victims and that those responsible for the killings are tracked down and brought to justice.
President Tinubu expressed his condolences to families who lost loved ones, prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased, and sympathised with the people and government of Kwara State.
The federal intervention follows reports that residents of Worro communities were attacked after refusing to submit to extremist control. The launch of Operation Savannah Shield signals an intensified security response aimed at stabilising Kaiama and preventing further violence in the area.
