In the aftermath of the February 5 massacre in Kwara State, community leader Umar Salihu has revealed the horrifying scale of the tragedy, saying the number of victims who were burnt alive in the church and locked rooms is beyond counting.
“There are some who were burnt inside the church. Others were locked in their rooms and set on fire. We can no longer count how many perished in the church and in the rooms,” Salihu told News Central in a recent interview.
The attack, which targeted civilians in Kaiama Local Government Area, has left families devastated and the entire community grappling with the loss.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of extreme violence and arson that consumed homes and places that were meant to be safe havens.
READ MORE: ‘We Have No One Left at Home’ — Kwara Attack Survivors Beg for Release of Abducted Wives, Children
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq said the victims were attacked for refusing to convert to a new Islamic faith.
Authorities have not yet released an official death toll, but preliminary reports suggest that over 170 people were killed, many trapped in confined spaces such as rooms and the church building.
The massacre has left the community mourning while calling for urgent government action to prevent further attacks and bring those responsible to justice.
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