Kwara Killings: CHRICED Warns Nigeria Is Sliding Towards State Failure
When communities begin to rely on armed groups for protection, the social contract has already begun to collapse.
That grim reality underpins a fresh warning by the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) over the recent massacre in Kwara State.
In a press statement issued in Abuja on 8 February 2026, CHRICED said no fewer than 162 people were allegedly killed when suspected members of the Islamist sect Lakurawa attacked Woro and Nuku villages on 3 February.
The group described the assault as a “horrific massacre” that exposed Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and the failure of authorities to protect vulnerable communities.
According to eyewitness accounts cited by CHRICED, the attackers operated for hours from mid-afternoon into the night, with security forces arriving only after the carnage had ended.
The organisation faulted what it called a reactive security posture and questioned the preparedness and coordination of the military, police and other agencies.
CHRICED also criticised the Kwara State Government for reportedly downplaying the death toll, insisting that minimising casualties dishonours victims and erodes public trust.
Drawing parallels with past attacks in Kebbi, Niger and Kaduna states, the group said repeated delays, denials and uncompleted investigations point to deep systemic weaknesses within Nigeria’s security architecture.
Warning that Nigeria is drifting towards state fragility, CHRICED noted reports of communities paying levies to armed groups for protection, a sign, it said, of eroding state authority.
The organisation demanded an independent probe into the Kwara killings, urgent security sector reforms, proactive disruption of terror networks, and support for affected communities.
It also urged the media, civil society, and religious and traditional leaders to sustain pressure for accountability and resist the normalisation of violence, cautioning that political manoeuvring ahead of 2027 must not overshadow the protection of lives.
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