President Tinubu deploys Army battalion, orders Operation Savanna Shield after Kwara attack

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama Local Government Area in Kwara State following a deadly overnight attack on the Worro community by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

More than 160 people have been killed in two villages in western Nigeria in the country’s deadliest armed assaults this year, as communities reel from repeated and widespread acts of violence perpetrated by jihadists and other armed groups.

The death toll from Tuesday’s attacks in Woro and Nuku in Kwara state stood at 162 on Wednesday afternoon, according to Mohammed Omar Bio, a member of parliament representing the area.

The death toll from Tuesday’s attacks in Woro and Nuku in Kwara state stood at 162 on Wednesday afternoon, according to Mohammed Omar Bio, a member of parliament representing the area, although the Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, put the death toll at 75.

President Tinubu gave the directive on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

It includes the appointment of a field commander and the launch of a military operation, tagged Operation Savanna Shield, to contain the attackers and protect vulnerable communities in the area.

President Tinubu condemned the assault, describing it as “cowardly and beastly,” and stated that the assailants deliberately targeted defenceless civilians.

He noted that the victims were killed after resisting attempts to indoctrinate them with extremist ideology.

The President has directed relevant federal and state agencies to collaborate in providing relief to affected residents and ensuring that those responsible for the attack are apprehended and prosecuted.

Tinubu also condoled with the families of the victims, the people, and the government of Kwara State, praying for the repose of the souls of those killed.

He assured residents of Kaiama and neighbouring communities of the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring security and preventing a recurrence of such attacks.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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