Fear and uncertainty have gripped Kemanji community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State after suspected bandits launched a deadly overnight assault that reportedly left several people, including security personnel, feared dead.
The attack, which occurred around 3:00 a.m. on Monday, was said to have followed days of tension after residents allegedly received a warning letter from the assailants, heightening anxiety across the agrarian settlement.
Eyewitness accounts and local sources said the attackers stormed the community under the cover of darkness, firing sporadically as terrified residents fled into nearby bushes for safety.
The invasion reportedly escalated when the gunmen targeted a military position in the area, allegedly detonating an explosive device before advancing further into the community.
Security operatives, including soldiers and local vigilante members, were said to have quickly mobilised in response, engaging the attackers in a fierce exchange of gunfire that lasted for about two hours.
An official source familiar with the situation said the confrontation stretched from about 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., adding that casualties were recorded on the side of the security forces during the battle.
“We engaged them in a serious gun duel that lasted till about 5:00 a.m. There were losses, but the full extent of the damage is still being assessed,” the source said.
Residents who spoke in fear described the attack as devastating, saying many villagers abandoned their homes as gunshots echoed through the community.
“It was chaotic. People ran in different directions. Nobody can yet confirm the exact number of those killed or injured,” a resident, Aliyu, said.
There were also claims that the attackers made away with security equipment and vehicles before retreating from the area.
In the aftermath, angry youths in the community called for calm but declared a temporary suspension of political activities, describing the killings as a moment of collective mourning for the area.
They paid tribute to fallen security operatives, describing them as heroes who died protecting the community.
A community leader and former student union president, A.K. Musa, condemned the repeated attacks in the area, urging leaders at all levels to take urgent responsibility for restoring security.
He warned that continued bloodshed without accountability was unacceptable, insisting that both political and traditional authorities must step up their response to the worsening situation.
However, attempts to get official confirmation from the police were unsuccessful as of press time, as the state police spokesperson did not respond to inquiries.
The latest attack adds to a troubling pattern of violence in Kaiama LGA, which has witnessed a series of deadly raids in recent months, including earlier killings of forest security operatives and mass abductions in surrounding communities.