The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the killing of about 170 people by suspected terrorists in Woro Community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, describing the incident as a grim reflection of worsening insecurity under the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
In a press statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the opposition party said reports of the massacre, as carried by Al Jazeera, underscore what it called a “new reality of heightened insecurity” confronting Nigerians.
The PDP expressed condolences to the families of the victims and residents of the affected community, lamenting that the tragedy could have been averted.
According to the party, community leaders had raised alarms about an impending attack months before it occurred, but no meaningful preventive action was taken by government authorities.
“The most painful part of this sad story is the fact that several community leaders have stated that the notice of this impending attack was available for months, without any meaningful proactive action from the government,” the statement said, adding that the post-attack deployment of troops was “weak, reactive, and irresponsible.”
The party argued that military action after the massacre could not undo the loss of lives or the trauma suffered by survivors, insisting that governance should prioritise prevention rather than reaction.
In response to the killings, the PDP demanded four immediate measures: the establishment of an independent panel to investigate the security lapses that led to the massacre; urgent humanitarian relief, medical support and temporary shelter for displaced and traumatised residents; the convening of an emergency National Security Summit involving key stakeholders; and the strengthening of community-based early warning systems to ensure timely action on credible threats.
Beyond the immediate demands, the opposition party called on the Federal Government to adopt what it described as a “whole-of-society approach” to insecurity.
This, it said, should include improved intelligence sharing between federal and state security agencies, the commencement of state policing, targeted economic development to address the roots of banditry and terrorism, and regular public security briefings on emerging threats.
The PDP criticised what it termed the government’s “ad hoc and reactionary tactics,” arguing that they have proven ineffective and costly in human lives. It also accused the Tinubu administration of prioritising politics over its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
“The time for excuses is over; the time for action is now,” the party said, warning that continued inaction would only deepen public anger and insecurity across the country.
