Nigeria has been hit by a fresh wave of deadly attacks, with scores of people killed after gunmen stormed two communities in Kwara State, while the Federal Government has confirmed the presence of a small team of United States troops in the country for intelligence and training support.
The attacks occurred on Tuesday evening in Nuku and Woro communities in Kaiama Local Government Area, where assailants reportedly opened fire on residents and set houses, shops and the palace of a traditional ruler ablaze.
Many villagers were forced to flee into nearby forests to escape the violence.
Local authorities initially confirmed at least 35 deaths, but humanitarian and rights groups say the toll is far higher.
The Red Cross in Kwara State put the number of fatalities at over 160, while Amnesty International reported that more than 170 people may have been killed, with some victims shot at close range and others burnt alive.
Several residents were also abducted.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described the killings as a massacre, saying the victims were attacked for refusing to submit to extremist demands.
Security forces have since been deployed to the area, though police say casualty figures are still being verified and some persons remain missing.
The whereabouts of the affected traditional ruler are also unclear.
There are conflicting claims over those responsible for the attack.
While President Bola Tinubu blamed the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, other officials pointed to Lakurawa, an armed faction linked to the Islamic State.
Police authorities, however, said suspected bandits carried out the assault.
The Kwara incident is one of several violent attacks recorded across the country in recent days.
In Katsina State, at least 21 people were killed in a separate attack on Doma village, while in Borno State, 17 others reportedly lost their lives in assaults blamed on Boko Haram insurgents.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa, has confirmed that a small contingent of US troops is currently in the country at Nigeria’s request.
He said the team is providing intelligence and training support to help tackle terrorism and other security threats, but gave no details on their size or duration of stay.
The confirmation follows remarks by the US Africa Command, which said the deployment was part of long-standing military cooperation between both countries.
Nigeria and the United States have carried out joint training exercises for decades, with cooperation intensifying in recent months amid renewed efforts to combat insurgency and banditry.
Nigeria continues to grapple with multiple security challenges, including armed banditry, Islamist insurgency, communal clashes and separatist unrest, despite ongoing military operations across several regions of the country.