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At least five people, including three soldiers, were killed on Thursday when suspected bandits launched a coordinated assault on the twin communities of Mari and Dina in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the villages in large numbers, firing indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes.
“People were running helter-skelter when the bandits started shooting sporadically. Some of the victims were hit by bullets while trying to flee into nearby bushes. It was a terrifying situation because nobody knew where the next gunshot would come from,” one resident recounted.
Local sources confirmed that the assailants abducted several residents, including women and children, marching them into the forest.
“The bandits operated for hours. They took many women and children away with them. As we speak, their whereabouts remain unknown,” another source disclosed.
Security forces responded after receiving distress calls, with troops from the Forward Operational Base in Patigi mobilized to the scene.
However, the bandits reportedly laid an ambush along the route, opening heavy fire on the soldiers. Three military personnel were killed in the ensuing gun battle, and a patrol vehicle was set ablaze.
“The soldiers moved in to rescue the villagers but the bandits had already positioned themselves strategically. It was a deadly ambush. The attackers opened heavy fire on the troops,” a source explained.
Residents expressed fear over the increasing frequency of such incidents, calling on authorities to intensify efforts to protect lives and property.
“This is becoming too much for us. People can no longer sleep with both eyes closed. We are appealing to the government to deploy more security personnel to this area before more lives are lost,” a community member lamented.
As of press time, military authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the casualties. The attack underscores the growing insecurity in Kwara State and the urgent need for stronger measures against banditry in rural communities.
