A deadly attack by armed bandits struck the quiet community of Oke-Ode in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria, leaving several residents dead and a father and son kidnapped. The attack, which began in the early hours of Sunday, plunged the agrarian town into chaos and fear as over 200 bandits on motorbikes stormed from different directions, shooting indiscriminately for nearly two hours.
Eyewitnesses recount the horror of the mass assault that targeted homes, the local police station, and community leaders. At the Miiala security command post, the commander and one of his lieutenants were killed, their weapons seized by the assailants. Civilians were not spared; two lost their lives in the violence including the traditional ruler of the area, commonly called the Baale. One resident whispered, “I hid in the roof while Baale and his brother were killed,” revealing the unimaginable terror the families faced.
The attackers also kidnapped a father and his son from the community amidst the mayhem. A relative of the victims, speaking on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, described the ordeal, emphasizing the deep trauma suffered by families left in limbo. “The bandits came with guns blazing, and before we could react, they had taken my uncle and cousin,” he said.
The Nigerian Police Public Relations Officer for Kwara State, SP Adetoun Ejire-Ayemi, confirmed the attack and said that joint security operations involving the police, Nigerian Army, and the Office of the National Security Adviser were being intensified to restore order and track down the criminals. She assured, “We are not leaving anything to chance. All security agencies are working hard to ensure the bandits terrorising our people are routed out.”
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara condemned the attack and called for increased military presence and support for the communities affected. This attack is part of a broader pattern of escalating banditry in Kwara and surrounding states, with recent reports indicating fatal raids, kidnappings, and seizures of military weapons by bandits in the region.
Since January 2025, numerous communities in Kwara have faced similar violent raids leading to deaths, mass displacement, and fear of further incursions by the heavily armed criminals. Residents fear most villages may soon be deserted if security forces do not decisively intervene.
This tragic event highlights the urgent need for strengthened security measures and humanitarian support for victims of banditry in Kwara State and beyond.
