Date: April 4, 2026 l Reporter: Musa Amed
At least five residents and three soldiers have been killed in a fresh attack by suspected bandits in Kwara State, Nigeria, with several women and children reportedly abducted during the raid.
The deadly assault occurred in the twin communities of Mari and Dina in Patigi Local Government Area, where heavily armed attackers stormed the villages, firing indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and panic as the gunmen invaded in large numbers, catching residents off guard. Many victims were reportedly shot while attempting to escape, while others sustained injuries during the attack.
Local sources confirmed that the assailants abducted an unspecified number of women and children, taking them away into surrounding forest areas. Families of the victims have been left in distress, with no information on the whereabouts of those kidnapped.
Security forces were mobilized following distress calls from the communities, with troops from a Forward Operational Base in Patigi dispatched to respond to the situation. However, the soldiers reportedly ran into a pre-planned ambush set by the attackers.
During the confrontation, three soldiers were killed in the exchange of gunfire, while the bandits also set a military patrol vehicle ablaze, further complicating rescue efforts and delaying response operations.
Residents described the attack as highly coordinated and prolonged, with the gunmen operating for hours without immediate resistance, heightening fears over the growing insecurity in the region.
The latest incident adds to a troubling pattern of violence in parts of Kwara State, where communities have increasingly come under attack by armed groups engaging in killings, kidnappings, and destruction of property.
Community members have called on the government and security agencies to urgently strengthen protection in vulnerable areas, warning that continued attacks could further destabilize already fragile rural communities.
As search and rescue efforts continue, the attack underscores Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges, with rural populations bearing the brunt of persistent banditry and armed violence across several regions.