Security analyst Salihu Dantata has raised serious concerns over the reported casualty figures from the recent violent attack in Kwara State, insisting that the death toll is far higher than what authorities have officially disclosed.
Dantata made the assertion on Thursday, the 5th of February, 2026, while speaking during an interview on Arise Television, where he provided context to the security situation in the affected area.
According to him, the communities involved had only recently experienced threats linked to terrorist activities, particularly from groups operating around Mamuda, which had earlier warned residents against going to their farms during the planting season. He noted that the local government under attack is closely linked to Baruten Local Government Area, which has also faced similar security challenges.
Dantata explained that residents began alerting authorities as soon as the violence erupted, but help failed to arrive in time. He lamented that the delayed response led to devastating consequences for the communities.
He said: “You see, starting from the federal government, that particular arena and access has just exited from Mamuda terrorist invasion. That was the same local government joined by Baruto local government, where the Mamuda terrorists had threatened them not to go to farm in the farming season.
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“As the incident was happening, residents already started transmitting the information. Unfortunately, rescue did not come until a lot of people were massacred.
“Even the figure the government is trying to give now is beyond that. As I speak to you, before I got here, they told me they had casualties rising up to 300,” he said.
The security expert’s remarks have intensified calls for transparency and a more proactive security response in vulnerable communities across the country.