BREAKING: Bandits Unleash Terror in Kwara—One Killed in Marri Village, 12 Vigilantes Slain in Oke-Ode Attack

Kwara State was thrown into mourning and fear again after two brutal bandit attacks left communities reeling in Patigi and Ifelodun Local Government Areas.

On Saturday night, heavily armed bandits stormed Marri Village in Patigi LGA under the cover of heavy rainfall. The raid, which lasted from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm, claimed the life of one resident, left another critically injured, and saw several motorcycles carted away.

According to NupekoTv, the gunmen struck with deadly precision, forcing terrified villagers to scamper for safety. However, the Nigerian Army swiftly responded to distress calls, engaging the criminals in pursuit. In a dramatic counter-operation, all stolen motorcycles were successfully recovered, forcing the bandits to flee.

“The intervention of the military brought great relief to our people, but the fear remains,” a resident said, lamenting the rising insecurity in Kwara North.

But the violence didn’t stop there. On Sunday morning, fresh blood was spilled in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun LGA, when bandits invaded the Ogbayo community around 7:00 am, unleashing indiscriminate gunfire.

The Kwara State Police Command later confirmed that 12 vigilantes, including the Baale (traditional leader) of Ogbayo, were killed in the ambush. Four others sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to the hospital.

Police spokespersons described the incident as a calculated assault on local security volunteers. “At about 7:00 am, armed men invaded the Ogbayo area of Oke-Ode, shooting sporadically. A combined team of police operatives and the National Forest Security Service responded swiftly, but 12 vigilante members, including the Baale, were found dead,” the statement read.

The police further assured that a joint military-police manhunt has been launched to track down the killers and restore peace in the affected communities.

The back-to-back attacks have heightened tension across Kwara North, where farmers, vigilantes, and local leaders continue to face unrelenting assaults from criminal gangs.