Residents said the latest attack underscores the worsening security situation in Kwara South, where several rural communities have reportedly been deserted as people flee persistent attacks by armed groups.
Terrorists on Wednesday night invaded Wande community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing one person, abducting another resident and injuring several others in the latest wave of attacks to hit communities in the state’s southern axis.
The attack has further heightened fears among residents, who say bandit activities have continued to spread across Kwara South despite ongoing security operations.
A source familiar with the incident told SaharaReporters that the terrorists stormed Wande community on Wednesday night, opening fire on residents and leaving behind casualties before fleeing with one abducted victim.
According to the source, one person was killed during the attack, another was kidnapped, while several residents sustained injuries.
Describing the ordeal, the source said he was physically assaulted by the attackers and suffered a serious head injury after being struck with the butt of a gun.
“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,” the source said.
Residents said the latest attack underscores the worsening security situation in Kwara South, where several rural communities have reportedly been deserted as people flee persistent attacks by armed groups.
“Kwara South has become a hotspot for bandits, while many communities have been deserted,” the source added.
Meanwhile, a top security source told SaharaReporters on Thursday that the attackers were believed to be members of a terrorist group that had earlier been engaged by security operatives in Yaru town before escaping towards Wande.
According to the security source, security forces had mounted an operation against the terrorists on Wednesday morning in Yaru, forcing them to retreat in the direction of Wande community, where they later carried out the deadly attack.
“It was obvious because they pushed them yesterday morning at Yaru again. They ran towards that end,” the security source said.
SaharaReporters previously reported that the Iru įŗøĢkĆŗn Security Network, a security outfit linked to Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, known as Sunday Igboho, has accused Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of preventing the group from visiting the state.
The security network alleged that the governor objected to the planned visit despite growing insecurity and persistent attacks by suspected armed herdsmen and terrorists in parts of Kwara South.
The allegation was contained in a voice note obtained by SaharaReporters through the State Administrator of the Iru įŗøĢkĆŗn Security Network in Osun State, Mr. Bolarinwa Kazeem Ayobami.
In the audio message, Ayobami announced that the planned visit of the security outfit to Kwara State had been suspended following an objection from Governor AbdulRazaq.
The planned visit, according to him, was intended to meet members of the Iru įŗøĢkĆŗn Security Network already operating in Kwara State.
However, he said the leadership of the organisation decided to cancel the trip to avoid exposing members in the state 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 įŗøĢkĆŗn Security Network in Kwara State. We do not want the visit to create problems or put any individuals at risk,” he said.
He further noted that the governor opposed the visit because “he’s a Fulani man.”
“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,ā he said.
“Therefore, the meeting that was scheduled to hold in Kwara tomorrow will no longer take place.”
