Residents of Lata Nna and nearby villages in Kwara North are living in fear after suspected bandits attacked the area on Friday night, forcing many to flee their homes.
The attack reportedly happened around 7:30 p.m., when a group of vigilantes returning from the bush was ambushed. Eyewitnesses said the bandits set the vigilantes’ vehicles on fire, triggering panic across Lata Nna and surrounding communities such as Kokodo and Gada.
“The gunshots were terrifying. People just ran for their lives,” one resident told *NupekoTV*. He dismissed reports that the incident was fake, insisting that the threat is real and ongoing. “Since Monday, our people have been living in fear. Anyone saying this didn’t happen is lying,” he said emotionally.
He described the attackers as heavily armed, stating that the vigilantes were no match for them. “These criminals have sophisticated weapons. Our local security men can’t handle them,” he added.
This latest incident adds to the growing insecurity in Kwara North. Just last week, residents of Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area were thrown into panic after bandits abducted two teenage girls—Aisha Yahaya and Mariam Yusuf—during a night raid. The attackers, who arrived on motorcycles, also attempted to kidnap the wife of a local traditional ruler.
Local communities are now calling on the state and federal governments to act fast and deploy better-equipped security forces to protect the lives and property of residents.
The rising wave of attacks highlights the urgent need for improved security in Kwara’s rural areas, where many feel abandoned and vulnerable.