The Lafiagi Emirate in Kwara North has once again been thrown into chaos and mourning as armed bandits launched brazen, coordinated attacks on three communities—Gbugbu, Guye Dadi, and Ekko—on Saturday night. The latest assault left one person dead, two others abducted, and hundreds of residents gripped by fear.
According to reports from NupekoTV-Lafiagi, the criminals struck with military-style precision, targeting high-profile residents in what appears to be a chilling escalation of the region’s deepening security crisis.
In Gbugbu, the gunmen stormed the town under the cover of darkness and kidnapped Alhaji Yau, a popular businessman and phone dealer known across the emirate. The terrifying raid left the entire community in shock, as the assailants operated with impunity.
The same night, in Guye Dadi, the attackers attempted to capture another influential figure, Alhaji Manle. Although he was not home at the time, his wife was abducted in his absence—an act that has sent shivers through the local elite, many of whom now fear being targeted.
Meanwhile, in Ekko village, tragedy struck as one resident was gunned down during the invasion. Another individual was taken by the attackers, further amplifying the growing toll of victims in Kwara North.
These simultaneous strikes are the latest in a disturbing pattern of violence sweeping across the region. Communities are reeling not only from the physical violence but also from the psychological trauma of living under constant threat. The government’s silence and the security agencies’ inaction have only deepened public despair.
Only days earlier, vigilante groups in Lata Nna were ambushed in a brutal ambush that saw their vehicles torched and terrified locals forced to abandon their homes. Prior to that, a rash of kidnappings sent shockwaves through the emirate: a POS agent named Yman was abducted alongside two children of another operator, and a well-known agro-chemical dealer popularly known as Alhaji Chemical was also seized by armed gunmen.
Residents across Lafiagi Emirate now live on edge, their daily lives dictated by fear of sudden attacks, abductions, and killings. The calls for urgent intervention from both state and federal authorities have grown louder, but so far, they have been met with silence.
Attempts to obtain a statement from the Kwara State Police Command yielded no response. The command’s spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, neither answered repeated phone calls nor responded to a text message seeking official comment.
As the security situation continues to deteriorate, many fear that without swift, coordinated, and transparent government intervention, the region may descend into anarchy—leaving more communities at the mercy of bandit warlords.
PIONEER NEWS 