CDHR Condemns Kwara Killings, Says Government Has Failed Citizens 

By Samuel Sunday 

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has condemned the killings of over 160 people in the Woro and Nuku communities of Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State, describing the attack as a clear failure of the government’s primary duty to protect lives.

In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by Comrade Debo Adeniran, the National President of CDHR, and Comrade Deacon Jeremiah Onyibe, the National Publicity Secretary, the human rights group expressed outrage over what it described as a barbaric massacre of innocent Nigerians, reportedly carried out by extremist elements operating in the area.

CDHR said the victims were defenseless residents who were attacked simply for refusing to submit to extremist beliefs, adding that the incident shows how cheap human life has become in Nigeria.

The group extended condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Kwara State, noting that the scale of the killings has left the affected communities traumatized and devastated.

Citing Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, CDHR stressed that the security and welfare of citizens is not optional but a constitutional obligation of government. 

According to the organization, the killing of over 160 people in one operation, despite reported warning signs, amounts to a catastrophic collapse of the state’s security responsibility.

“The government exists primarily to protect its people,” the group said, adding that any administration that cannot guarantee safety in homes and farms has failed morally and legally.

While acknowledging the recent deployment of an army battalion to the area, CDHR described the move as reactive and belated. 

The human rights organization noted that the communities in Kwara and neighboring Niger State had raised concerns about growing extremist activities long before the attack.

CDHR called for an independent investigation into the incident to determine why intelligence warnings were allegedly ignored and demanded a permanent security presence in identified flashpoints rather than temporary operations.

The organization also urged the government to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators while providing immediate humanitarian and psychological support to survivors and displaced residents of Kaiama.

“The era of empty condolences must end,” CDHR warned, insisting that Nigerians deserve real security, not promises after blood has been shed.