Dalena Reporters l December 28, 2025
Armed bandits have carried out a violent raid on the Owa Onire community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, Kwara State, killing residents, injuring others and kidnapped many people, local sources told Dalena Reporters, heightening concerns about the worsening security situation in the region. The attack reportedly took place on Saturday night, December 27, 2025, when gunmen stormed the small agrarian town, firing indiscriminately and sowing fear among residents, who said the violence has gone largely unreported due to the community’s size.
One resident, speaking on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, said the bandits’ actions followed recent kidnappings in the same area with two previous victims released only after ransom payments and lamented the absence of timely security response to deter the criminals. Locals described the attackers as becoming increasingly emboldened by the lack of enforcement and public awareness, prompting calls for urgent government intervention to protect vulnerable communities.
Eyewitnesses also highlighted that insecurity in the area extends beyond the immediate town, noting that workers on the nearby Oke Onigbin–Owu Falls Road project were abducted recently, illustrating the broader pattern of violence and the failure of security agencies to provide adequate protection. Residents reiterated that the continued silence from authorities has encouraged criminal gangs to carry out repeated incursions with apparent impunity.
The attack adds to a series of banditry and kidnapping incidents in parts of Kwara State, where rural communities have been targeted by armed groups, fuelling fear and displacement among locals and raising urgent calls for stronger security measures from federal and state authorities.