Gunmen suspected to be bandits have struck again in Kwara State, killing a vigilante commander and abducting residents during a late-night raid on Kakafu village in Lade District, Patigi Local Government Area.
The victim, identified as Tetengi, was shot dead around 10 p.m. on Wednesday while leading efforts to repel the armed attackers, who stormed the community in large numbers and fired indiscriminately. Witnesses said the invasion left villagers terrified, with several people feared kidnapped, though the exact number of victims has not yet been confirmed.
A resident who spoke on the incident expressed frustration over the absence of security reinforcements during the attack. He praised the bravery of the fallen vigilante commander while calling on government authorities to take stronger measures to stem the escalating violence. “The incessant kidnappings and attacks are getting out of hand. We need drastic action,” he said.
The attack adds to growing insecurity in Patigi and Edu LGAs, where residents and government workers, including staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), have been living in fear of abduction. SaharaReporters earlier revealed that INEC officials in both areas abandoned their offices, citing security concerns after receiving intelligence that they could be targeted as “soft victims.”
The closure of INEC offices has disrupted the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise that began in August, deepening mistrust in government assurances of safety. A senior security source warned that the kidnapping of electoral staff could cause national embarrassment and heap additional pressure on the Tinubu administration.
Locals say the crisis has worsened confidence in the authorities’ ability to secure lives and property. “If bandits could attack a community barely two hours after the governor visited the place, then who is safe?” one INEC staff member asked, stressing that the commission would not provide ransom funds should any abduction occur.
The killing of Tetengi underscores the risks faced by local vigilante groups, often the first line of defence for rural communities left vulnerable by the absence of adequate security presence.
