A pregnant woman has been confirmed dead and several others injured following a violent attack by armed bandits on Motokun community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at about 5:00 am, left the peaceful community in shock and sorrow. According to residents, the gunmen stormed the area and began shooting sporadically, forcing people to flee for their lives.
Motokun is a small rural settlement located about 10 kilometres from Patigi town, the headquarters of the local government area.
Security sources revealed that several people sustained gunshot wounds during the attack. The pregnant woman, whose name was not disclosed, died at the Patigi General Hospital due to injuries she sustained. At least six people were also reportedly abducted by the attackers during the raid.
In addition to the human casualties, the bandits were said to have carted away hundreds of cows, leaving local herders devastated.
Although the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, local authorities and security operatives have confirmed that efforts are ongoing to track the attackers and rescue the abducted victims.
This latest incident adds to the growing concern over the rising insecurity in Kwara North, particularly in Patigi and Edu local government areas, which have witnessed repeated attacks in recent months.
Residents of the area have called on the state and federal governments to step up security measures to prevent further loss of lives and property.
“This is not the first time we are experiencing such attacks,” one resident told reporters. “We are living in fear every day. We need urgent help from the government.”
Efforts by the Kwara State Government and security agencies to rid the region of criminal elements have so far yielded limited results, with many communities still vulnerable to attacks.
As of the time of filing this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the police are yet to issue an official statement.
