Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Saturday, February 7, 2026, visited Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, following a deadly terrorist attack in Woro community, Kaiama Local Government Area, where over 170 people were reportedly killed, but he did not travel to the affected community due to actions linked to the state government.
The visit was meant to be a condolence mission after the attack linked to Boko Haram fighters, which devastated Woro and nearby areas. However, sources within the Kwara State Government said the Vice President was prevented from going to the community itself. According to the sources, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq allegedly informed Shettima that the journey to Woro was too long and could not be completed within the same day.
The sources claimed the explanation given to the Vice President was not accurate and was used to hide the poor condition of the roads leading to Kaiama. They explained that travelling from Ilorin to Kaiama requires passing through parts of Oyo State, including Igbeti and Kishi, before entering Baruten Local Government Area, and that most of the roads along the route are badly damaged and difficult to navigate.
It was gathered that the state government feared the Vice President seeing the poor state of infrastructure, which could cause embarrassment. As a result, community leaders, including the Emir of Kaiama and the chairman of the local government, were asked to travel to Ilorin instead to meet Shettima.
Sources said the Vice President stayed briefly in Ilorin and left shortly after the meeting. He did not meet residents of Woro or visit the scene of the attack. After leaving Ilorin, Shettima proceeded to Owerri to attend events marking the 50th anniversary of Imo State.
Despite not visiting the community, Shettima said he was in Kwara on the directive of President Bola Tinubu to sympathise with the victims and the state government. He described the killings as disturbing and said security agencies had been deployed to Kaiama and surrounding areas to restore peace. He also stated that the federal government had directed emergency agencies to provide support to the affected communities.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, while receiving the Vice President in Ilorin, thanked the federal government for its response to the attack, including the deployment of security forces.
Meanwhile, residents of Kaiama Local Government Area accused the state government of ignoring repeated security warnings before the attack. According to them, reports of armed strangers camping in nearby forests were made to traditional rulers, local authorities and the state government months earlier, but no action was taken.
The residents said the failure to act on those warnings left their communities exposed, leading to the deadly attack that claimed over 170 lives.
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