Omotayo Adigun
Communities in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State were thrown into mourning on Tuesday after bandits launched coordinated attacks that left several residents dead, including a pregnant woman, while others were abducted.
The attackers, who reportedly arrived in large numbers on motorcycles, stormed Motokun, Egboro, and Fanagun villages in the early hours, firing gunshots indiscriminately and forcing villagers to flee for safety. Eyewitnesses said the assailants operated for hours without immediate intervention from security agencies.
Residents confirmed that about eight people were kidnapped, while many others sustained gunshot wounds. Sources further revealed that the attackers carted away at least 15 motorcycles during the raid. In Fanagun village, three Fulani men and their cattle were also abducted.
A vigilante commander, Gina Gana, explained that the assault was a reprisal following an earlier clash between troops and the bandits, during which dozens of cattle were rustled. He added that at least four of the gunmen sustained serious injuries during the confrontation.
The brutality of the raid shocked locals. A community member, James Ibrahim, recounted how residents woke up to gunfire and panic. He said one woman who was shot later died at Patigi General Hospital, while a cleric known for preaching in the village was killed and mutilated.
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Another leader, Mallam Mohammed, lamented that the attacks have become almost a weekly ordeal in Patigi. He expressed concern about the growing difficulty in identifying informants, noting the intermarriages between Fulani families and locals.
“This is a terrible situation. People are fleeing, leaving their homes behind. The government must urgently send reinforcements to protect us,” he said.
The Chairman of Patigi Local Government, Hon. Ahmed Rufai Adam, confirmed the incident, stating that he was in an emergency security meeting to address the escalating violence.
Residents are now appealing for government intervention, while many have resorted to prayers in hopes of relief from the incessant attacks.