Terrorists on Wednesday night attacked Wande community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing one resident, abducting another and injuring several others.
The latest assault has heightened fears among residents, who say armed attacks have continued to spread across communities in the southern part of the state despite ongoing security operations.
A source familiar with the incident told SaharaReporters that the attackers invaded the community on Wednesday night, opened fire on residents and fled with one abducted victim.
According to the source, one person was killed during the attack, another was kidnapped, while several residents sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Describing his ordeal, the source said he suffered a serious head injury after being struck with the butt of a gun by one of the attackers.
“They hit me on the head with the butt of their gun. Blood has been coming out from my head. The person they shot; we are taking him to the hospital in Igbaja. We are on our way.”
Residents said the attack reflects the worsening security situation in Kwara South, where several rural communities have reportedly been abandoned as people flee repeated attacks by armed groups.
“Kwara South has become a hotspot for bandits, while many communities have been deserted.”
A senior security source also told SaharaReporters on Thursday that the attackers were believed to be members of a terrorist group that had earlier clashed with security operatives in Yaru town before fleeing towards Wande.
According to the source, security personnel launched an operation against the terrorists in Yaru on Wednesday morning, forcing them to retreat in the direction of Wande community, where they later carried out the attack.
“It was obvious because they pushed them yesterday morning at Yaru again. They ran towards that end.”
The incident comes amid growing concerns over insecurity in Kwara South.
Recently, the Iru Ẹ̀kún Security Network, a security outfit associated with Yoruba nation agitator Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, alleged that Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq prevented the group from visiting the state despite rising attacks by suspected terrorists and armed herders.
The allegation was contained in a voice note obtained by SaharaReporters through the Osun State Administrator of the Iru Ẹ̀kún Security Network, Bolarinwa Kazeem Ayobami.
In the audio, Ayobami said the group’s planned visit to Kwara State had been suspended after the governor reportedly objected to it.
He explained that the visit was intended to meet members of the security network already operating in the state, but the leadership decided to cancel the trip to avoid exposing them to possible risks.
“In truth, if all of us were to go there, no one would be able to do anything to us. However, the people we intended to meet are members of the Iru Ẹ̀kún Security Network in Kwara State. We do not want the visit to create problems or put any individuals at risk.”
Ayobami further claimed that the governor opposed the visit because of his ethnic background.
“We have now been informed that the Governor of Kwara State has refused permission because he’s a Fulani man. Because of that, the trip has been suspended for now.”
“Therefore, the meeting that was scheduled to hold in Kwara tomorrow will no longer take place.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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