Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed deep sorrow over the deadly bandit attack on Oke-Ode in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, which left several vigilantes and a community leader dead.
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed that at least 12 people, including the Baale of Ogbayo, were killed in the attack.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the incident occurred around 7 a.m. on Sunday when armed men stormed the Ogbayo area, shooting sporadically and targeting local vigilantes. Four injured victims were taken to the hospital, while the bodies of the deceased were evacuated.
Reacting to the incident in a statement shared on his X handle on Tuesday, Obi described the killings as “another mindless act of violence” and called for urgent measures to end the recurring bloodshed.
“It is with a heavy heart that I received the news of the tragic killings in Oke-Ode, Kwara State, where innocent lives, including vigilantes and the Baale of Ogbayo, were cut short in yet another mindless act of violence from armed bandits terrorising our nation,” Obi said.
He added that the repeated attacks underscore “the urgent need for an emergency on national security,” stressing that Nigerians should not have to live in fear within their own homes.
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Obi extended condolences to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the people of Kwara State, and the grieving families.
“My heart goes out to the Governor and the people of Kwara State. I reassure you that you are not alone. And to the grieving families, please accept my deepest condolences. May you find strength and comfort in this difficult time and may the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace,” he prayed.
The Oke-Ode killings add to the rising concerns over insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in rural communities vulnerable to banditry and kidnappings.