Two people have been confirmed dead and two others abducted following separate attacks by suspected bandits in Ifelodun and Patigi Local Government Areas of Kwara State.
The first incident occurred on Monday night in Ayekale community, Idofin Odo-Ashe, in Ifelodun LGA, where bandits launched a violent attack around 8:30 p.m., shooting sporadically and causing widespread panic.
A local vigilante member, identified as Wale Awo Penpe, was shot dead while trying to defend the community from the attackers. Reports say the vigilante group put up strong resistance but were eventually overwhelmed by the bandits, who operated for hours before fleeing.
Residents were thrown into fear as gunshots rang out through the night, with many forced to flee or hide in nearby bushes for safety.
In a related development, a day earlier on Sunday evening, another attack was reported in Rani village, located in Patigi Local Government Area of the state. The assailants struck just before the 7:00 p.m. Magrib prayer, killing the village head and abducting two residents.
Local sources said the village head was attacked while preparing to lead the evening prayers. The gunmen reportedly escaped into the nearby forests after the attack, and efforts to trace them have so far been unsuccessful.
These fresh attacks come amid rising concerns over the growing presence of criminal elements in parts of Kwara State, especially in rural communities with limited security coverage.
Efforts to reach the Kwara State Police Command for comments on both incidents were unsuccessful as calls and messages to the command’s spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, were not returned as of press time.
Meanwhile, residents in both affected areas have called on the state and federal governments to urgently deploy more security personnel to safeguard lives and property. Community leaders are also appealing for support in strengthening local vigilante groups who often serve as the first line of defence in rural areas.
The recent attacks add to growing insecurity in North Central Nigeria, where banditry, kidnapping, and violence have disrupted farming activities and forced many villagers to flee their homes.
