A security expert, Salihu Dantata, has alleged that the number of people killed in the recent attack in Kwara State is far higher than the figures released by the government.
Dantata made the claim on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television, where he faulted the official response to the incident and questioned the accuracy of casualty figures made public so far.
According to him, residents of the affected local government areas had been relaying distress information while the attack was ongoing, but security intervention came too late.
He said the area had only recently emerged from threats linked to the Mamuda terrorist group, noting that neighbouring local governments, including Baruten, had earlier been warned by the attackers not to engage in farming activities.
Dantata lamented that despite early warnings from locals, rescue efforts were delayed, allowing the violence to escalate.
“As the incident was happening, residents were already transmitting information, but unfortunately, help did not arrive until many people had been massacred,” he said.
The security expert further claimed that the casualty figures being circulated by authorities did not reflect the reality on ground.
“Even the figures the government is giving are not accurate. As of the information I received before coming here, casualties had risen to about 300,” Dantata added.
He called for greater transparency from authorities and urged the government to reassess its security strategy to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.