Survivors of the deadly terror attack on in Kaiama Local Government Area of are battling hunger and hardship nine days after the massacre that claimed more than 200 lives.
Terrorists invaded the agrarian community on February 3, killing vulnerable residents and abducting an unspecified number of women and children who were reportedly taken into . Shops and homes were looted before being set ablaze, leaving survivors without food, shelter or livelihoods.
Although the Kwara State and Federal Governments deployed multi-agency security operatives to restore order and protect remaining residents, affected families say they have yet to receive tangible relief materials from the relevant emergency authorities.
The (NEMA), responsible for coordinating humanitarian responses, is expected to work with the (KWASEMA) to provide immediate assistance in situations like this. However, residents say no substantial aid has reached them nearly 10 days after the tragedy.
Most of the victims are farmers and petty traders whose shops and farmlands were deliberately targeted during the attack, cutting off their means of survival. While hundreds have fled to neighbouring towns and villages, some residents—mostly men—have remained behind under the watch of armed security personnel.
Despite the improved security presence, food scarcity has become a pressing concern.
“There is almost nothing to eat,” said Rita Danladi, who narrowly escaped abduction but lost her children and daughter-in-law to the attackers. “If I see someone or a family eating, I walk up to them to have a bit of whatever they are eating.”
Another survivor, Abdulrasheed Najeem, said he escaped gunfire with nothing but the clothes on his back. “All my shops were burnt down with stored foodstuffs worth over N4 million,” he lamented.
Officials of the Red Cross were seen in the community midweek, inspecting a broken motorised borehole and distributing items such as buckets, mosquito nets, shovels, nails, hammers and maize grains. Residents also confirmed receiving sachet water and limited food supplies, mainly from relatives and concerned individuals in Kaiama and surrounding communities.
“The government hasn’t provided anything yet,” said retired teacher Lasisi Tunde. “We don’t know if they will later, but nobody has said anything to us.”
The Kwara State Government had earlier announced the constitution of a seven-man committee to assess the needs of the victims and coordinate support.
Meanwhile, NEMA stated that it conducted a field assessment and delivered relief materials to KWASEMA. According to the agency, the items were received on behalf of the state government by the Executive Secretary of KWASEMA, Mr Moshood Mogaji.
As displaced families continue to grapple with trauma, hunger and uncertainty, calls are mounting for swift and transparent distribution of relief materials to ease the suffering in Woro.
