At least 75 residents were killed and several houses set ablaze when suspected terrorists attacked the Nuku and Woro communities in the Kaiama LGA of Kwara state.

Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the police spokesperson in Kwara, said the attack on the communities began at about 6pm on Tuesday.

Ejire-Adeyemi said security agencies had since been deployed to the affected areas but noted that the number of casualties remained uncertain, while reports of missing persons are still being investigated.

However, Rauf Ajakaye, the chief press secretary to AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, governor of Kwara, told TheCable that 75 residents were killed by the suspected terrorists during the attack.

He added that the victims, who were moderate Muslims, were killed for “refusing to surrender to extremists who preached a strange doctrine”.

Ajakaye said the governor arrived in Kaiama on Wednesday night in the company of service chiefs and cabinet members to commiserate with the communities and assess the situation.

TINUBU DEPLOYS TROOPS

According to him, AbdulRazaq, who was received by the Emir of Kaiama, announced that President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate deployment of an army battalion to prosecute counter offensives codenamed ‘Operation Savannah Shield’ in the communities.

The governor had on Tuesday condemned the attack, describing it as a “cowardly assault on innocent civilians” in the two communities.

He said the incident was likely an attempt by terrorist groups to distract security agencies amid ongoing counterterrorism operations in parts of the state.

The attack comes amid renewed security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, with Washington confirming the deployment of a “small team” of troops to the country.

Dagvin Anderson, the general in charge of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), disclosed the development during a press briefing on Tuesday.

It marks the first public acknowledgement of US troops operating on Nigerian soil since the Donald Trump administration authorised missile strikes against terrorist targets in Sokoto on Christmas Day.

Bandit groups, long active in Nigeria’s north-west, have in recent years expanded their operations into states such as Kwara and neighbouring Niger.

Jihadist groups linked to a Boko Haram splinter faction have also carried out attacks in Kwara, frequently targeting markets and vigilante groups.

The Cable

Armed bandits have attacked the Abande community in the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, resulting in the deaths of a mobile police officer and four civilians.

According to the Benue State Police Command, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) from the 13 Police Mobile Force (PMF) was killed during an attack at a police station and residential areas in the Abande community. Four community members also died.

The confirmation was made by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edet Udeme, in a statement issued on Wednesday in Makurdi.

According to Udeme, the remaining four victims were residents of the affected community.

She explained that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Jato-Aka, Kwande LGA, received a distress report on February 3 indicating that suspected armed bandits had launched an attack on police officers deployed to Abande community as well as local residents.

Udeme disclosed that the ASP, who was on special assignment at the community, sustained fatal injuries during the incident, while four civilians also lost their lives in the attack.

She further stated that security forces have since moved into the area to prevent further violence.

“Following the incident, combined teams of police operatives and other security agencies have been mobilised to the area to secure the community, conduct a thorough search, and forestall further breakdown of law and order.

“The deceased persons have been recovered and deposited at the mortuary.”

Udeme added that the Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Mr Ifeanyi Emenari, has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations to immediately take charge of the situation in Jato-Aka.

“He is directed to go with additional mobile force personnel and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to coordinate intensive operations, track the perpetrators, and effect their arrest.

“The Benue State Police Command commiserates with the families of the deceased and the Abande Community and assures the public that all necessary measures are being taken to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore peace to the area,” she said.

In commemoration of World Cancer Day, slated for February 4, 2026, Polaris Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to community health and social impact with the launch of a nationwide free breast cancer screening initiative in partnership with its NGO partner, Care Organization and Public Enlightenment (C.O.P.E). 

The initiative is designed to promote awareness, screening, early detection, and preventive care, reinforcing the Bank’s belief that access to health services is a critical foundation for individual and economic wellbeing.

As part of this year’s World Cancer Day activities, Polaris Bank will provide free and comprehensive breast cancer screening for 100 women across Nigeria, while also supporting an on-going free prostate cancer screening programme for 250 persons across Nigeria it earlier sponsored for men aged 40 years and above.

The prostate cancer screening is being conducted at the Men’s Clinic, situated at 18, Commercial Avenue, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos, providing accessible, professional medical support for male participants seeking early detection and preventive care for prostrate.

Both initiatives (free breast and prostate cancer screenings) directly aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through improved access to preventive healthcare and early detection services, SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by prioritizing women’s health and empowerment, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through strategic collaboration with civil society organizations such as C.O.P.E to deliver community-centered impact.

Educational materials, community engagement sessions, and digital awareness campaigns will be deployed to reinforce key messages around early detection, lifestyle choices, and the importance of regular medical check-ups.

Speaking on the initiative, Rasheed Bolarinwa, Group Head, Brand Management & Corporate Communications, Polaris Bank, emphasized that early detection remains one of the most effective tools in the fight against cancer.

By removing financial barriers and bringing screening services closer to communities, the Bank aims to empower individuals with the knowledge and resources they need to seek timely medical intervention.

The flagship breast cancer screening event will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the C.O.P.E Centre, 39B Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

The exercise will be conducted by trained health professionals and volunteers, ensuring participants receive both screening services and educational guidance on cancer prevention, self-examination, and follow-up care.

Participation in the free breast cancer screening programme is subject to the following requirements: applicants must be women, applicants must be Polaris Bank account holders, and pre-registration is required, with selection based on early and confirmed submissions.

Eligible participants are encouraged to register via the official link: bit.ly/BCS2026.

While the breast cancer screening is targeted at women, Polaris Bank encourages men to actively support the health of their families by urging their wives, daughters, and female relatives to register and participate.

In parallel, men are also invited to take advantage of the on-going free prostate cancer screening programme for men aged 40 years and above at the Men’s Clinic, Sabo, Yaba.