Armed bandits have launched deadly attacks on several communities in Kwara State, leaving at least 10 residents dead, many others injured and scores displaced after homes were set ablaze.
The assaults, carried out by heavily armed men on motorcycles, targeted villages in the Ifelodun and Edu local government areas, according to local sources and security officials. Residents said the attackers stormed the communities in large numbers, shooting sporadically and setting houses on fire as people fled into nearby bushes.
Eyewitnesses reported that the bandits moved from house to house, looting valuables before torching buildings. Entire compounds were reduced to ashes, with families losing food supplies, livestock and personal belongings. Survivors described scenes of chaos as gunfire rang out and thick smoke covered the sky.
Community leaders confirmed that at least 10 people were killed in the raids, including farmers, traders and elderly residents who were unable to escape. Several others sustained gunshot wounds and are receiving treatment in nearby hospitals and private clinics. Local volunteers and relatives have been combing surrounding farmlands and forests in search of missing persons.
The attacks have triggered a wave of displacement, with frightened villagers fleeing to neighbouring towns and makeshift camps. Many are now sheltering in school buildings, religious centres and with relatives, with limited access to food, clean water and medical care.
Traditional rulers and community associations have appealed to security agencies and the Kwara State government for urgent intervention, warning that continued insecurity could cripple farming and trade in the affected areas. They also called for increased patrols, better intelligence gathering and support for local vigilante groups who often serve as first responders during such invasions.
Security officials said additional personnel have been deployed to the troubled axis, including police tactical units and operatives of other security formations. Authorities have vowed to track down the perpetrators and restore calm, while urging residents to share timely information on suspicious movements.
Human rights advocates and civil society groups have condemned the attacks, describing them as part of a disturbing pattern of rural violence spreading across parts of Nigeria. They are pressing for a coordinated security strategy, improved protection for vulnerable communities and relief materials for those who have lost homes and livelihoods in the Kwara assaults.
