Tinubu condemned Tuesday's "beastly attack", which he said was carried out against villagers who had rejected extremist Islamist ideology.

"President Tinubu expressed rage that the attackers killed the community members who rejected their obnoxious attempt at indoctrination," a presidential statement said on Wednesday.

The main attack occured late Tuesday in Woro village, while another attack was reported in Nuku village.

Ayodeji Emmanuel Babaomo, theRed Crosssecretary in Kwara State, said the death toll stood at 162, "as the search for more bodies continues".

Hetold French news agency AFP that gunmen had burned shops and a traditional ruler's home in Woro and that wounded people fled into the bushes.

Babaomo said the organisation has been unable to reach the communities where "scores of people were killed" because of the remoteness of the area about eight hours from the state capital and nearNigerias border withBenin.

Conflicting casualty reports

Residents told Reuters news agency the gunmen, thought to be jihadists who often preached in the village, demanded that locals ditch their allegiance to the Nigerian state and switch to Sharia Islamic law. When the villagers pushed back, the militants opened fire.

Earlier, a local lawmaker in Woro, Sa'idu Baba Ahmed, gave an initial toll of 35 to 40 dead but said he expected more bodies would be found. He later put the death toll at more than 170.

The attack was confirmed by police, who did not give a casualty figure.

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While no group has yet claimed responsibility, the Kwara state governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq blamed "terrorist cells".

He said their attack as a "cowardly expression of frustration" in response to ongoing military operations against armed extremists in the state.

Mohammed Omar Bio, a member of parliament representing the area, told the Associated Press agency the attacks in Woro and Nuku were carried out by theLakurawa, an armed group affiliated with theIslamic Stategroup.

President Tinubu blamed the attack onBoko Haramjihadists.

Complex security crisis

Nigeria is in the grip of a complex security crisis, with an insurgency byIslamicmilitants in the north-east alongside a surge inkidnappingsfor ransom by gunmen across the north-west and north-central regions over recent months.

Last month, the military said it had launched "sustained coordinated offensive operations against terrorist elements" in Kwara State. Local media reported that the army had "neutralised" 150 bandits.

Jihadist attacks have intensified over the past year in Nigeria. The powerful Al-Qaeda affiliate Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) which operates across the northern border in Niger claimed responsibility for its first attack in Nigeria at the end of October, in Kwara State.

Researcher Brant Philip said the latest raid occurred very near the site JNIM attacked, suggesting a "direct overlap" between JNIM and Boko Haram, with the groups appearing to have a "loose alliance".

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US involvement

Nigeria is under pressure to restore security since US President Donald Trump accused it last year offailing to protect Christiansafter numerous Islamist attacks and mass kidnappings.

In response, Trump orderedUS air strikesin December on IS group-affiliated militantsin Nigeria.

On Tuesday, the head of US Africa Command said theUShadsent a small teamof military officers to Nigeria.

The Nigerian authorities say they are cooperating with Washington to improve security and have denied there is systematic persecution of Christians.

Experts say Muslims as well as Christians have been killed in the country's violence, often without distinction.

(with newswires)

Originally published on RFI