Tension continues to mount in parts of Kwara State as armed bandits struck yet again in a late-night assault, abducting a woman from Kpanpkanragi village, under the Lafiagi Emirate in Edu Local Government Area.
According to eyewitnesses, the attackers stormed the quiet village around midnight, firing shots into the air to create panic before seizing their victim. The woman was taken to an unknown destination, marking another grim chapter in a disturbing trend of abductions across Kwara North.
This latest incident adds to a growing list of violent attacks that have left residents of Kwara State living in fear. Just days earlier, gunmen launched coordinated raids on the Motokun and Agboro communities in Patigi Local Government Area. Six people were kidnapped in Motokun, while six others suffered gunshot wounds — one of whom, a female victim, later died from her injuries.
In Agboro, the assailants targeted a private company where a police officer lost his life during a fierce gun battle. Properties were also destroyed in the attack.
The Kwara State Police Command, in a statement signed by spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the incidents and assured residents that tactical units, working in tandem with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies, had been deployed to the affected areas to restore calm and secure the release of abducted individuals.
Meanwhile, in a related security development, the Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested the wife of a traditional ruler — Oba Aliyu Alabi Yusuf, Arojojoye II, the King of Babanla in Ifelodun LGA — over allegations of aiding terrorist activities.
Sources say the monarch’s wife is being detained at the DSS headquarters in Abuja, accused of operating a Point of Sale (POS) outlet used for ransom collections. Also in custody is the monarch’s personal assistant, who allegedly helped disburse funds to criminal groups.
This follows weeks of speculation and controversy around royal involvement in bandit-related finances. Earlier this month, a viral social media post falsely claimed that several Kwara monarchs had been arrested with N120 million linked to banditry. Although the photos accompanying the post were later proven to be AI-generated and the Kwara Police dismissed the claims as fake, the recent DSS arrests suggest a deeper investigation is underway.
In response to mounting pressure, Oba Yusuf had previously filed defamation lawsuits against several individuals who accused him and his family of ties to terrorists. However, he withdrew the case on September 15 following appeals from community leaders.
The security situation in Ifelodun and surrounding LGAs has deteriorated in recent months, with villages such as Babanla, Shegbe, Alabe, and Oreke suffering frequent raids. Many residents have been forced to flee their homes, while others have fallen victim to abductions or killings.
In July, terrorists kidnapped two teenage girls, Aisha Yahaya and Mariam Yusuf, aged 16 and 17, in a motorcycle-led raid. Then in August, suspected Fulani bandits ambushed motorists in Irepodun LGA, killing at least three people in a brazen roadside attack.
With public confidence in local security efforts fading, residents are now calling for urgent intervention from both the state and federal governments.
As the wave of violence continues to sweep through Kwara’s rural communities, the question on everyone’s mind remains: How long before peace returns?
Got updates from Kwara or nearby communities? Reach out to our newsroom anonymously via [+234 802 219 8060, info@everyday.ng, or everydayng67@gmail.com]. Stay safe, stay informed.
