Suspected bandits have killed a resident and abducted two women during a late-night attack on a Fulani settlement in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, raising fresh concerns over growing insecurity in parts of the state.
The attack occurred on Monday night in the Sodo/Sawmill area on the outskirts of Lafiagi, a community in Kwara North that has experienced security challenges in recent years.
Residents said the gunmen invaded the settlement at about 8 p.m., firing gunshots into the air and causing panic among villagers. Many residents reportedly fled into nearby bushes and surrounding areas to escape the attackers.
According to community sources, the gunmen were believed to have come in search of a prominent Fulani leader in the area. However, after failing to locate him, they allegedly turned their attention to members of his family.
The attackers reportedly abducted two women identified as wives of the Fulani leader before fleeing the community.
During the attack, one resident was shot and killed, further deepening fears among residents already worried about the increasing activities of criminal groups in the area.
Witnesses said the attack created confusion as residents struggled to protect themselves and their families from the armed men.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said the sound of gunfire sent people running in different directions.
“The gunmen came suddenly and started shooting. Everyone was frightened because nobody knew who they were after. People ran for safety while the attackers moved around the settlement,” the source said.
Security operatives were later alerted to the incident through distress calls from residents.
Sources said security personnel, including military troops, quickly mobilised to the area and confronted the attackers.
The intervention reportedly forced the gunmen to abandon further attacks and retreat into a nearby forest.
Although the security response prevented a prolonged siege on the community, the attackers succeeded in escaping with the two abducted women.
Confirming the incident on Tuesday, Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said one person lost his life while two women were kidnapped during the attack.
“Yes, one man was killed while two women, 25 and 35 years of age, who are wives of the Seriki Fulani, were abducted,” the police commissioner said.
Ojo disclosed that preliminary investigations indicated that the attackers had specifically targeted the Fulani leader, identified as an Ardo, but failed to locate him before fleeing the area.
According to him, security agencies are currently tracking the suspects and have intensified efforts to rescue the kidnapped women.
“The attackers targeted the Fulani leader, Ardo. And for now, we are still on their trail because before we got there, the military had repelled them before they ran into the forest, but we are on their trail,” he stated.
The police commissioner assured residents that security agencies were working closely together to apprehend those responsible for the attack and secure the release of the abducted victims.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over insecurity in Edu Local Government Area and other parts of Kwara North, where residents have repeatedly called for stronger security measures.
Communities in the region have in recent years reported cases of kidnapping, armed attacks and clashes involving criminal groups operating within forest areas.
Residents have often expressed fears that criminals take advantage of difficult terrain and remote settlements to carry out attacks before escaping into nearby forests.
The development has also raised concerns among farmers and herders who depend on the area for their livelihoods.
Many residents say insecurity is affecting farming activities, movement of people and economic activities in several communities across the region.
Community leaders have repeatedly appealed to the government and security agencies to strengthen surveillance, increase patrols and establish more security posts in vulnerable areas.
Kwara State, which was once regarded as one of the more peaceful states in the country, has in recent years witnessed an increase in security threats, particularly in parts of the northern senatorial district bordering Kogi and Niger states.
In response to rising concerns, security agencies have launched several operations aimed at flushing out criminal elements from forests and rural communities.
However, residents continue to demand more sustained action to prevent further attacks and reassure communities living in fear.
The latest attack in Lafiagi comes at a time when many parts of Nigeria are grappling with insecurity, including kidnapping for ransom, banditry and violent attacks on rural communities.
For now, residents of the affected settlement remain in mourning over the loss of a community member while anxiously awaiting news about the fate of the two abducted women.
As security operatives continue their search for the attackers, community leaders are hoping the victims will be rescued unharmed and that measures will be put in place to prevent future attacks in the area.