Bandits have struck Kwara State for the second time in less than two days, leaving three people dead in a fresh attack in Bokungi community of Edu Local Government Area.
The assailants struck on Wednesday evening, barely 24 hours after a deadly raid on a church in a neighboring district.
It was meant to be a routine evening for rice farmers looking to retrieve their harvest. Instead, armed men descended on the farmlands around 6:30 pm. According to locals, the bandits targeted two separate groups of workers who were wrapping up for the day.
Initially, the situation appeared to be a kidnapping operation. Community sources revealed that four individuals, including a teenage boy and a member of the local vigilante group, were dragged away. However, the encounter turned fatal shortly after. Sources confirmed that the attackers killed two of the farmers and inflicted fatal wounds on the vigilante. One person remains unaccounted for.
To make matters worse, the bandits made off with a Bajaj motorcycle. The bike had only recently been distributed to the vigilante group by the local government chairman, Abdullahi Bello, specifically to aid in security patrols.
While calls to the police commissioner went unanswered on Thursday, the local vigilante leadership stepped up to confirm the details of the event.
Gina Gana, a vigilante commander in Edu, confirmed the heartbreaking loss and the sudden nature of the violence.
The bandits attacked the victims as they were preparing to leave the farm on Wednesday…they have killed three people, including two farmers and a vigilante, but we are yet to see the last person. We have been experiencing relative peace after the security situation peaked months ago… until this incident
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who was on an on-the-spot assessment following the previous church attack, promised immediate action to fortify the area, including plans for a military base.
It is indeed unfortunate what happened yesterday despite all the effort we have been making. We will speak with the GOC to see that we have a Forward Operating Base in Eruku to enhance security here and also talk to the Inspector General of Police about establishing a mobile squadron here. The President had to cancel his trip to the G-20 because of this incident and that of Kebbi State. So the President is aware and we are on top of the situation
The state government is tirelessly working to establish a permanent military and police presence in the crisis zones, as the community mourns these fresh losses.
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