"Reports said that the death toll now stands at 162, as the search for more bodies continues," said Babaomo Ayodeji, Kwara state secretary of the Red Cross, updating an earlier toll of 67. The strike late Tuesday came after the military recently carried out operations in the area against what it called "terrorist elements". As the search for bodies continues, the death toll is expected to rise. It has faced intense scrutiny in recent months after US President Donald Trump claimed a "genocide" of Christians was taking place. This has been rejected by the government and independent experts, who say Nigeria's security crises claim the lives of both Christians and Muslims, often without distinction.

Source: Ethiopian News February 04, 2026 19:16 UTC