Residents flee Kwara communities as bandits intensify attacks, killings
Hundreds of residents of Lata village in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State have fled their homes over incessant raids and attacks by gunmen, locally referred to as bandits.
According to local sources, tired of the unrelenting violence, residents began deserting the town on Friday morning. By evening, almost everyone in the community had fled. The displaced villagers are currently taking refuge in nearby towns perceived to be safer.
Kwara State has recently experienced a surge in bandit attacks and kidnappings, particularly in Kwara North and South. Last week, gunmen attacked Lile village in Patigi LGA, killing several residents and demanding a large ransom.
Similarly, Lafiagi and other villages in Edu LGA witnessed high-profile kidnappings, including the abduction of a prominent agrochemical dealer known as Alhaji Chemical, and a Point of Sale (POS) agent. No fewer than two vigilante officers were also killed in several waves of attacks, sparking widespread fear and community protests.
A resident who spoke with The Informant247 on condition of anonymity said the decision to flee was unanimous after the latest attack.
He explained that bandits ambushed vigilantes in the village, killing or injuring several of them and setting two of their vehicles ablaze.
“These people will never allow us to rest. We are farmers, but we’ve stopped going to our farms. And as you know, they have even shut down the popular Gbugbu market. Life is tough for us right now,” he lamented.
“The saddest thing is that the government is not even saying anything. It’s like everything is fine. But when you look at the North, it’s on fire. The same thing is happening in the South. Only Central is relatively safe for now, along with a few other places. Yet, the government is pretending that all is well. Baruteen and Kaiama are under constant attacks, and Edu and Patigi are being seriously bombarded by bandits.”
Several videos sighted and verified by The Informant247 also showed residents fleeing the village with their belongings in tow.
Another source confirmed that by Friday afternoon, many residents had already arrived in relatively safer towns, while some were heading toward Ilorin for safety.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official comment from either the Kwara State Government or the state police command.
