Nigeria sets up new military operation after deadly attack, while abducted Christians return home

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — The Nigerian government has announced a military operation to tackle Islamic militants following the killing of scores of people, likely all Muslims. Meanwhile, about 180 Christians who were abducted elsewhere last month have been released.

Local officials said 162 people were killed during a Tuesday attack in the Muslim-majority villages of Woro and Nuku in Kwara state, many of them reportedly for resisting extremist ideology. It is one of the deadliest attacks in the country outside of the known conflict hot spots.

The gunmen razed homes and looted shops in what Amnesty International’s Nigeria office called “a stunning security failure.” No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack but locals and officials have pointed to various Islamic militant groups.

A statement from the Nigerian presidency noted the attackers killed the villagers for rejecting “their obnoxious attempt at indoctrination, choosing instead to practice Islam that is neither extreme nor violent.”

Experts say that Kwara, which has seen a recent spike in deadly attacks and kidnappings, is fast becoming a new frontier for armed groups seeking to expand in Africa's most populous country, where numerous violent groups are vying for space and power.

James Barnett, a researcher at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, said armed groups have been going farther afield because they are finding a lot of competition from rival groups in the areas where they traditionally operated.

Separately, on Thursday, the Kaduna state governor announced that all 183 Christians taken in three simultaneous church abductions last month have been released. Of the abducted, 89 of them were rescued on Wednesday, according to the governor. He gave no details, although analysts say sometimes the government pays a ransom.

The reported figure at the time of the abductions from local residents and advocacy groups was 168 people.

“Following this incident, I approached the president and the national security adviser on the need to establish a military base ... particularly around the Regina general area, which has long been identified as a flashpoint," Gov. Uba Sani said in a speech.

Kwara State Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said Tuesday's attack was likely carried out in response to recent counterterrorism operations in the region. Some similar operations have been possible due to intelligence provided by local communities.

The killings also could serve to intimidate other communities and make them more likely to comply with militants' demands.

President Bola Tinubu’s office said in a statement late Wednesday that a Nigerian army battalion will be deployed to Kwara’s Kaiama area, where the attack happened. Kaiama has had a limited security presence until now.

Tinubu said the new military command will spearhead Operation Savannah Shield to "protect defenseless communities,” the statement read.

In November last year, Tinubu announced a state of emergency on security and planned to recruit police officers in response to mass abductions across the country. The plan also included the deployment of forest guards.

Communities and some state governments across northern Nigeria have been entering into security pacts with armed groups to forestall killings, as military efforts have failed to curtail the spread of the attacks, but these have not always been successful.

Analysts say not enough has been done by the government to tackle the insecurity, as the military is stretched fighting armed groups in every region of the country, with little done in terms of obtaining modern weapons and intelligence gathering.

U.S. President Donald Trump has alleged without evidence that Christians are the primary targets in Nigeria. While Christians have been among those targeted, analysts say the majority of victims of armed groups are Muslims in Nigeria’s north, where most attacks occur.

Despite their initial disagreements, the U.S. administration has since carried out airstrikes targeting Islamic militants in parts of the country as part of wider security efforts in partnership with the Nigerian military. A small team of American officers are also on the ground in Nigeria.

In comments on Thursday in Washington, Trump doubled down on his assertion that the militant groups were primarily killing Christians.

“We knocked the hell out of them the other day in Nigeria because they were killing Christians,” Trump said.

Burned homes and tools stand on an ash covered ground, days after an attack in the village of Woro, Nigeria, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Musa Salim)

A burned truck and homes stand in ruins days after an attack in the village of Woro, Nigeria, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Musa Salim)

Ashes cover the ground days after an attack on the village of Woro, Nigeria, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Musa Salim)

Flip flop shoes and blood stains cover the street days after an attack in the village of Woro, Nigeria, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Musa Salim)

Charred homes and tools are in ruins days after an attack in the village of Woro, Nigeria, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Musa Salim)

Freed church worshipers who were abducted by gunmen in Kurmin Wali, are seen upon their arrival at the state government house in Kaduna, Nigeria, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Abel Omotosho)

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, right, shake hands with freed church worshipers, abducted by gunmen in Kurmin Wali, upon their arrival at the state government house in Kaduna, Nigeria, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Abel Omotosho)

Freed church worshipers who were abducted by gunmen in Kurmin Wali, are seen upon their arrival at the state government house in Kaduna, Nigeria, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Abel Omotosho)

FILE - Nigerian soldiers march during 50th anniversary celebrations of Nigerian independence, in Abuja, Nigeria, Oct. 1, 2010. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, File)

FILE - Nigerian soldiers ride on an armored personnel carrier during Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Maiduguri, Nigeria, Aug. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, File)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said Friday he's remaining with the Wildcats after being mentioned as a potential candidate to fill the coaching vacancy at blueblood program North Carolina.

“I'm happy to announce I'm staying at Arizona,” Lloyd said during his pre-practice news conference at the Final Four. “We've been able to get some things done the past couple days.”

The school also announced it had reached an extension with Lloyd through the 2030-31 season, though it didn't release financial terms. Lloyd had previously been under contract through the 2029-30 season worth an average of nearly $5.5 million in base and supplemental pay for the coming seasons, along with a buyout that dropped from $11 million to $9 million on Wednesday.

Lloyd, 51, had been considered a top potential target for the Tar Heels, who fired Hubert Davis on March 24 after five seasons. He had deflected questions about the UNC opening as the Wildcats (36-2) kept advancing in the NCAA Tournament to their first Final Four since 2001, including as recently as Thursday in Indianapolis.

Lloyd praised UNC as “a first-class organization” and said he appreciated “the way they've handled this.”

“Arizona basketball, you guys know what it means to me, and when I say it’s a special place, that always comes from the bottom of my heart,” Lloyd said.

“I didn’t want to make this entire Final Four about that because I’m just a small part of something much bigger. But on that same note, I’d also like to let you know that North Carolina is an amazing place. I mean, it’s a 1 of 1. It’s an honor to even be considered for that job.”

Lloyd's comments came a day before the Wildcats (36-2) were set to face Michigan in Saturday night's national semifinals in a matchup of the two 1-seeds in Indianapolis.

Wolverines coach Dusty May has also been mentioned as a possible UNC candidate, but said Friday he'll “never respond to any job speculation.”

“I think it’s well documented how happy I am at Michigan,” May said. “Obviously my private life, my personal life, my family, their happiness is very important. Yeah, I love it at Michigan, but you’ll never hear me comment on any other job unless Michigan lets me go and then I’ll comment on every job.”

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd waves as he cuts down the net after a win over Purdue in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd speaks during a news conference ahead of a national semifinal NCAA college basketball tournament game against Michigan at the Final Four, Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)