Gunmen raid Kwara communities, leave residents injured, abduct several

Fresh attacks have hit parts of Kwara State as suspected bandits stormed communities in Patigi Local Government Area, leaving several residents injured and others reportedly abducted.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday evening, targeted Dinna and Marri communities, where witnesses said heavily armed assailants arrived in large numbers, catching residents off guard and triggering panic across the area.

Locals who spoke on condition of anonymity said the attackers moved swiftly through the communities, shooting sporadically and forcing people to flee for safety, while some victims were unable to escape the chaos.

Although the exact number of those abducted remains unclear, multiple residents confirmed that several people were taken away during the incident. Others sustained varying degrees of injuries as the gunmen overran parts of the villages.

Fear, confusion as attacks spread

Accounts from residents paint a picture of confusion and fear, with many saying the attackers surrounded the communities before launching their assault.

One resident said the scale of the attack left people with little time to react, noting that many victims were caught in their homes or while trying to escape.

Another community member criticised the response of authorities, accusing the state government of failing to address what he described as a growing pattern of insecurity in Kwara North.

Beyond the reported abductions, there were also claims that at least four farmers may have been killed across nearby villages, including Emikpangi, although these reports had not been independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

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Efforts to get official confirmation from the police were unsuccessful, as spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi had yet to respond to inquiries on the incident.

Government response under scrutiny

The attack comes amid rising concerns about insecurity in parts of the state, particularly in rural communities where residents say they feel increasingly vulnerable.

In a recent statement, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Rafiu Ajakaye, acknowledged the broader security challenges facing the country, describing banditry and terrorism as serious threats.

He said the state government was committing significant resources monthly to support security agencies, insisting that efforts were ongoing to tackle the situation.

However, residents affected by the latest violence say those assurances have yet to translate into improved safety on the ground, as attacks continue to disrupt lives and livelihoods.

With the latest incident, pressure is likely to mount on authorities to strengthen security presence in vulnerable areas and prevent further escalation of violence in the region.