Suspected bandits have reportedly invaded the Kakafu community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting four residents during a midnight operation that left the village shaken.
The attack was said to have occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday when armed men stormed the farming settlement, firing sporadically into the air to instill fear and disperse residents.
Community sources disclosed that the assailants operated unchallenged for several minutes before taking their victims to an undisclosed location.
A forest guard, who requested anonymity for security reasons, confirmed that the remote village on the outskirts of Patigi town was targeted in the early hours of Sunday.
“The incident happened in the middle of the night. Kakafu is located on the outskirts of Patigi, and there are no security operatives stationed there at that time,” the source said.
He explained that the alarm was raised at daybreak, prompting a search operation. However, efforts to trace the attackers through surrounding bush paths proved unsuccessful.
According to preliminary findings, one man and three women were kidnapped, with the women believed to be a mother and her two daughters.
“They did not kill anyone. They only abducted the four victims and fired gunshots to create panic and confusion,” the source added.
Residents of the community are said to remain traumatised, amid fears that the attackers may still be lurking in nearby villages.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the command had yet to receive an official report of the incident but assured that updates would be provided once details are confirmed.
The incident comes amid heightened tension in parts of Kwara State, following reports that suspected armed groups have issued threat letters to several communities in recent weeks, raising fresh concerns over security in the area.