From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
Tragedy struck Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday night, as bandits attacked Woro and Nuku communities, killing several residents, including a student of the Kwara State College of Nursing Sciences (KWASCONS), Salihu Bio Khalid.
Khalid, a Midwifery student of KWASCONS and former President of the institution’s Student Union Government, was reportedly killed alongside his brother during the deadly assault, which has thrown the student community and residents of the area into deep mourning.
Reacting to the incident, the National Association of Nigeria Comrades, Kwara Axis, described Khalid’s death as a painful loss to the student movement in the state.
In a statement jointly signed by its State Chairman, Comrade Babatunde Jamiu, Vice Chairman (Academic), Comrade Ahmed Ayinde, and Public Relations Officer, Comrade Taofeeq Opeyemi, the association said the news came as a shock to students across Kwara.
Related News
“Salihu Bio Khalid was a committed and courageous student leader whose dedication to student welfare, unionism and service to his institution stood as a testament to purposeful leadership,” the statement read. “His contributions to the student movement will remain indelible in our collective memory.”
The group extended condolences to the family of the deceased, KWASCONS management and students, praying for strength for all those affected by what it described as an irreparable loss.
Beyond mourning, NANC condemned what it called the growing wave of insecurity in the state, warning that continued attacks on innocent citizens and students were unacceptable.
“The rising spate of banditry and violent attacks demands serious, decisive and emergency intervention,” the association said, urging the state government and security agencies to strengthen security around student-populated areas and major transit routes, thoroughly investigate the Kaiama attack and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice, while also engaging student bodies and civil society groups in proactive security planning.
The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, also condemned the killings, calling for intensified military action to stem the tide of violence in the area. In a statement issued in Ilorin, he said security agencies must scale up efforts to prevent further loss of lives.
“I am calling for intensified military action against the perpetrators,” the Speaker said. “Our communities must also cooperate fully with security agencies to bring an end to these killings once and for all.”
Danladi-Salihu stressed the need for an immediate escalation of military operations along the Kaiama axis bordering Niger State to flush out criminal elements, noting that increased pressure in other parts of the state could push terrorists to seek refuge in new areas.
He commiserated with the Emir of Kaiama, Dr. Muazu Omar, and families of victims, describing the attack as senseless and heartbreaking.
Similarly, the Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Senator Saliu Mustapha, called for the deployment of more troops to the affected communities to check the activities of terrorists. In a statement personally signed by him on Wednesday, the Senator said he received the news of the attacks with deep sadness.
“This senseless act underscores the urgent need for unity, vigilance and stronger community cooperation in tackling insecurity,” Senator Mustapha said, urging residents to remain calm, support security agencies and promptly report suspicious movements.
He also commended the Kwara State Government for what he described as a swift response to the situation, while appreciating security agencies for their ongoing efforts to combat terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements.
The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party also condemned the attack, describing it as “despicable, inhuman and callous.” In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the party called on the state government to immediately provide humanitarian aid, relief materials and medical support to affected communities.
The PDP further urged security agencies to intensify efforts to track down and prosecute those responsible, saying justice must be served for the sake of public safety and the memory of the victims.
The attack has renewed calls from across Kwara State for urgent and coordinated action to end banditry and restore peace to vulnerable communities.
