BANDITS KILL 15 VIGILANTES, KIDNAP RESIDENTS IN KWARA COMMUNITY ATTACKS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
At least 15 vigilantes and hunters were killed on Sunday morning when armed bandits invaded Oke-Ode community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Residents said an unspecified number of people were also abducted during the assault, which left the town in mourning. An online video showed the bodies of slain vigilantes lying on the ground.
A local vigilante, identified simply as Ajetunmobi, alleged that government claims of repelling the attackers were false. He said intelligence about the planned attack had been circulating since Saturday night, yet no preventive measures were taken.
“We sent out messages to security operatives, but this morning the attackers began by targeting the vigilantes at their duty post,” he said.
Among those killed were community members identified as Oji, Saheed Metubi, and Baale Ógba Ayo. The corpses were taken to the police station, while the injured were rushed to the General Hospital in Share.
The National President of the Oke-Ode Community Development Association, Alhaji Ganiyu Ajala, condemned the killings and urged the state government to intensify its security response.
“While commending the government for existing security measures, we call for redoubled efforts to completely route these undesirable elements from the Oke-Ode axis and the state in general,” he said.
Hours before the Oke-Ode killings, gunmen also stormed Tsaragi in Edu Local Government Area, where they abducted a businessman, Suleiman Ndana, popularly known as “Manager.” Witnesses said the heavily armed attackers fired several shots before taking Ndana away in a midnight raid.
Residents believe Ndana, who recently built a new fuel station in Yana Kokonna, may have been specifically targeted.
The Tsaragi incident came just four days after suspected bandits abducted a married woman, Aisha “Gogo,” and a 16-year-old girl, Amina, during a midnight raid in Maganiko Ndanangi, Lafiagi Emirate.
Meanwhile, Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, has approved the relocation of the 2025 Medical and Surgical Outreach Programme for Ifelodun LGA from Oke-Ode Specialist Hospital to Cottage Hospital, Omupo, citing security concerns.
Police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed the attacks, saying the command was awaiting detailed reports before issuing a formal statement.
The latest incidents highlight the rising wave of violent attacks across Kwara, particularly in the north and south, where gunmen have repeatedly targeted business owners, farmers, and traditional rulers for ransom.
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