No fewer than 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.

Police spokesperson in Kwara state, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, 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.

Rauf Ajakaye, the chief press secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said that 75 residents were killed by the suspected terrorists during the attack.

He said 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.

According to him, AbdulRazaq 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.

On Tuesday evening, the governor 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 Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, OON, on 4 February 2026, received the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Nigeria, His Excellency Muhannad Halmouri, who is on a courtesy visit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.

The meeting is part of ongoing diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and the State of Palestine, while also providing an opportunity to review consular, humanitarian, and regional issues of mutual concern.

During the meeting, the Palestinian Ambassador conveyed warm greetings from the Palestinian leadership and expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s longstanding and principled support for the Palestinian cause. He recalled the historic nature of Nigeria-Palestine relations, dating back to the era of President Yasser Arafat, and commended Nigeria’s consistent moral and diplomatic stance at international fora.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza and the wider Palestinian territories also featured prominently in the discussions.

The Ambassador briefed the Honourable Minister on the prevailing conditions, including ongoing security challenges and constraints on humanitarian access, while acknowledging Nigeria’s constructive position and support for efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully, grounded in international law and ethical considerations.

Looking ahead, the Ambassador conveyed the Palestinian Government’s interest in a prospective visit by the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs to Nigeria. He indicated that such a visit could include high-level engagements and possible interaction with Nigeria’s National Assembly, in line with established diplomatic protocols.

The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs in his remarks reaffirmed Nigeria’s enduring support for the Palestinian people and reiterated the country’s commitment to justice, peaceful coexistence, and respect for international law.

He assured the Palestinian Ambassador that the issues raised would be examined through appropriate diplomatic and administrative channels, in line with Nigeria’s foreign policy principles.

The meeting concluded in a cordial atmosphere, reflecting the warm and enduring relations between Nigeria and the State of Palestine, as well as the shared commitment to sustained dialogue and cooperation.

Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), has been hospitalised after he slumped on Tuesday outside his office, according to his media assistant, Emmanuel Nweke.

Nweke, in a statement, said Maina lost his balance while attempting to access the office, fell on the staircase, hit his head, and passed out.

The aide attributed the incident to complications arising from an untreated knee injury the former pension reform boss has reportedly been battling.

“The incident occurred following complications from an untreated knee injury, which caused him to lose balance and fall, resulting in his head hitting the staircase,” the statement said.

He explained that medical personnel at the scene promptly administered first aid before Maina was rushed to a private hospital in Abuja for urgent medical attention.

“Dr Maina is currently receiving close medical care and remains under observation,” Nweke added. “Following a preliminary medical assessment, one of the attending doctors advised that arrangements be considered for an air ambulance medical evacuation should his condition not stabilise within a short period.”

According to Nweke, Maina’s family and medical team are closely monitoring his condition and have appealed to the public for prayers, understanding, and respect for their privacy at this critical time.

Maina was recently released from the Kuje Correctional Centre, where he served a prison sentence after being convicted of pension fraud.

In November 2021, a federal high court in Abuja convicted him on charges bordering on money laundering involving more than ₦2 billion. He was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in October 2019 and pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge.

In his judgment, Justice Okon Abang held that Maina stole over ₦2 billion belonging to pensioners, “most of whom have died without reaping the fruits of their labour.”

The Court of Appeal, in May 2023, upheld both the conviction and the eight-year jail sentence. During proceedings at the trial court, Maina was at one point wheeled into the courtroom by two prison wardens, prompting the court to order the deputy comptroller of the Nigerian Correctional Service to personally examine him to determine the true state of his health.