Bandits kill resident, abduct two women in fresh attack on Kwara community

By Ahmed Olayinka

Suspected bandits have killed a resident and abducted two women during a late-night attack on a Fulani settlement in the Sodo/Sawmill area of Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The attack occurred on Monday evening when armed men reportedly invaded the settlement at about 8 p.m., firing gunshots indiscriminately and causing panic among residents.

Sources within the community said the attackers were believed to have targeted a prominent Fulani leader in the area. However, after failing to locate him, they allegedly abducted two of his wives before fleeing the scene.

During the attack, one resident was reportedly shot dead by the gunmen.

Security operatives were said to have swiftly responded to distress calls from residents, while military personnel engaged the attackers in a gun battle, forcing them to retreat into a nearby forest.

Confirming the incident on Tuesday, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, said one person lost his life while two women were kidnapped during the attack.

“Yes, one man was killed, while two women aged 25 and 35 years, who are wives of the Seriki Fulani, were abducted,” the police commissioner stated.

Adekimi disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the attackers had specifically targeted the Fulani leader, identified as an Ardo, but were unable to capture him.

“The attackers targeted the Fulani leader, Ardo.

For now, we are still on their trail because before we arrived at the scene, the military had already repelled them and they fled into the forest.

However, security operatives are actively pursuing them,” he added.

The latest attack has renewed concerns over the growing security challenges in Edu Local Government Area and other parts of Kwara North, where residents have repeatedly called for intensified security operations to tackle criminal activities and protect vulnerable communities.

Security agencies have assured residents that efforts are ongoing to rescue the abducted women and apprehend those responsible for the attack.