Suspected bandits have invaded Kakafu community, a remote settlement in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting four residents during a late-night operation.
The attack reportedly occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, throwing the quiet agrarian community into chaos as gunmen fired repeatedly into the air to create panic and confusion.
Sources said the victims include a man, a woman, and her two daughters. The assailants were said to have moved through the community without facing resistance before taking the captives to an undisclosed location.
“They did not kill anyone. They only abducted the four victims and fired indiscriminately to create fear and confusion among the villagers,” a source familiar with the incident disclosed.
A forest guard, who requested anonymity, said residents remain deeply shaken by the development and fear the attackers may strike again.
“People are still in shock. Panic has gripped the community because the assailants are believed to be hiding in nearby villages,” he said.
The spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, stated that she had yet to receive official details of the incident but promised to respond after confirming the situation. However, no further update had been provided as of the time of filing this report.
Escalating Insecurity in Kwara
The latest abduction adds to a string of violent incidents across Kwara State, where armed groups have carried out deadly attacks and kidnappings for ransom.
On February 3, gunmen suspected to be terrorists reportedly killed 170 people in an overnight assault on two communities in the Kaiama axis of the state.
The increasing violence has fueled concerns that insurgent elements may be extending their operations southward along the Niger-Kwara corridor toward the Kainji forest, an area security experts warn could become a strategic base if not effectively secured.
Nigeria has faced growing international attention over its security challenges, particularly after US President Donald Trump last year accused the country of failing to adequately protect Christians amid repeated attacks and mass kidnappings.
The administration of President Bola Tinubu has rejected claims of systematic religious persecution and insists it is intensifying efforts to restore order. The Federal Government has also pledged enhanced collaboration with international partners and the deployment of additional security resources to safeguard remote and vulnerable communities.
What you should know
Gunmen suspected to be bandits abducted four residents, a man, a woman, and her two daughters, during a pre-dawn raid on Kakafu community in Patigi LGA of Kwara State.
The attackers fired shots to instill fear but recorded no fatalities.
The incident comes amid rising insecurity in Kwara, following recent mass killings and fears of expanding militant activities in the region.
