Bandits kill 15 vigilantes, hunters in Kwara community

No fewer than 15 vigilantes and hunters were killed on Sunday morning when armed bandits invaded Oke-Ode community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, THE PRIME NEWS reports.

An unspecified number of residents were also reportedly kidnapped during the attack, which left the community in mourning.

A video of the incident obtained by THE PRIME NEWS showed the bodies of slain vigilantes lying on the ground.

A member of the local vigilante group in the town, identified simply as Ajetunmobi, told our correspondent that the government was being economical with the truth by claiming the attackers were repelled.

“We have been hearing that the bandits were around the community since Saturday night, and we sent out messages to security operatives to be prepared.

“To our surprise, this morning the attackers started the attack from the duty post, targeting the vigilantes,” he said.

According to him, those killed included community members identified as Oji, Saheed Metubi, Baale Ógba Ayo, among others.

He added that the corpses were taken to the police station while the injured were rushed to the General Hospital in Share.

The vigilante member accused the government of failing in its duty to protect citizens, noting that intelligence about the planned attack had been circulating for days.

“The government failed in its primary duty. Information has been circulating for some time now that they were planning to attack Oke-Ode. Why were the soldiers withdrawn?” he queried.

Meanwhile, the National President of the Oke-Ode Community Development Association, Alhaji Ganiyu Ajala, while condemning the killings, urged the state government to step up its security response.

“While commending the government on the various security measures already put in place, we call for redoubling of efforts towards completely routing these undesirable elements from the Oke-Ode axis and the entire state in general,” Ajala said.

Hours before the Oke-Ode killings, another attack was reported in Tsaragi, Edu Local Government Area, where bandits abducted a businessman, Suleiman Ndana, popularly known as “Manager,” during a midnight raid on his residence.

The incident, which occurred around 12 a.m. on Sunday, threw the community into confusion as the gunmen, said to be heavily armed, fired several gunshots into the air to scare residents.

A resident, Mohammed Sanda, who spoke said the operation appeared well-planned.

“The attack happened around 12 a.m. The gunmen came in large numbers, shooting into the air, and went directly for the Manager. Their target was clearly him. They took him away, and since then, there has been no word on his whereabouts,” he said.

It was gathered that Ndana had recently built a new fuel station in Yana Kokonna, Tsaragi, which residents fear may have attracted the kidnappers’ attention.

Sunday’s attack came barely four days after suspected bandits launched a midnight raid in Maganiko Ndanangi, Lafiagi Emirate, where a married woman identified as Aisha “Gogo” and a 16-year-old girl named Amina were abducted.

In a related development, the Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, has approved the relocation of the 2025 Medical and Surgical Outreach Programme for Ifelodun Local Government Area from the Specialist Hospital, Oke-Ode, to the Cottage Hospital in Omupo.

The programme, now scheduled for Tuesday, October 14, will provide free consultations, surgeries, and other essential healthcare services.

The Commissioner explained that the decision followed a review of security concerns in some parts of the state.

“The relocation was aimed at ensuring wider accessibility and improved service delivery to communities within the local government area,” she said in a statement signed by her press secretary, Hamdalat Saad.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, who confirmed the incidents, said the command would issue a statement once detailed information about the incidents was available.

“The command is aware of the attacks. I am waiting for detailed information from the divisions.

“As soon as I get them, it will be made available to you,” Ejire-Adeyemi said.

The latest incidents add to the rising wave of violent attacks in Kwara North and South, where business owners, farmers, and even traditional rulers have become targets of ransom-seeking gunmen.

Communities across the state have raised alarm over repeated raids and mass abductions, often at night, with many victims still missing.

The increasing frequency of such attacks has heightened fear, displacement, and calls for urgent government intervention.