Nighttime attack in Kakafu Village results in vigilante commander killed, residents abducted in Kwara. Pic: SaharaReporters
The victim, Tetengi, was a local vigilante commander killed around 10pm during the assault.
Residents reported that the attackers entered the community in large numbers and opened fire indiscriminately.
A local source confirmed Tetengi confronted the bandits before he was fatally shot.
The same source said the invasion caused panic, with some residents believed abducted, but numbers remain unclear.
Kwara Community Faces Rising Bandit Threat
Residents lamented the lack of security reinforcements during the attack.
“We lost one of our brave local security commanders who, alongside others, confronted the bandits,” the source said.
“We tried calling for security backup, but there was no response at the time the bandits struck,” they added.
“We are calling on the government to take drastic action; the incessant kidnappings and attacks are getting out of hand.”
SaharaReporters previously reported that staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Patigi and Edu LGAs have abandoned duty posts citing threats of abduction.
Top security sources said intelligence operatives warned INEC personnel they could be targeted as “soft victims” by marauding bandits.
INEC Offices Remain Closed Amid Escalating Attacks
Lade town in Patigi LGA has been largely deserted due to repeated attacks by criminal groups.
“The INEC staff are scared. They don’t want to risk being kidnapped or attacked,” a senior source said.
Another source noted that potential abductions could cause national embarrassment and intensify pressure on the Tinubu administration.
“The fear is that if INEC staff are kidnapped, it would not only be a monumental national embarrassment but also place the Tinubu administration under intense scrutiny,” the source said.
“The INEC staff were instructed to seek clearance from security agencies before reporting to duty posts.”
Residents confirmed that INEC offices in both LGAs remain locked for most days, disrupting the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
Local staff said the suspension of services has weakened public confidence in government security assurances.
One INEC official noted the chairman stated there would be no ransom funds available in the event of abductions.
“We can’t risk our lives in the name of national service. There is no assurance of our safety. If bandits could attack a community barely two hours after the governor visited, then who is safe?”
The community continues to demand urgent government intervention as banditry escalates across Kwara State.
Incidents in nearby communities have highlighted persistent security challenges across the region, as reported by Premium Times.
Authorities have urged vigilance and community cooperation while investigations into the attacks continue.
