Fear gripped residents of Lafiagi in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State after suspected bandits attacked a Fulani settlement on the outskirts of the town, killing one person and abducting two women.
The attack, which occurred on Monday night in the Sodo/Sawmill area, reportedly threw the community into panic as armed men stormed the settlement and opened fire indiscriminately.
Residents said the assailants arrived at about 8 p.m., shooting sporadically while searching for a prominent Fulani leader believed to be their main target.
Sources within the community disclosed that the gunmen were unable to locate the leader and subsequently abducted two women identified as his wives before fleeing the scene.
A male resident was also fatally shot during the assault.
Security sources said troops and other security personnel responded after receiving distress calls from residents.
The attackers were reportedly confronted by military operatives and forced to retreat into a nearby forest.
Confirming the incident on Tuesday, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said one person lost his life during the attack, while two women were taken away by the gunmen.
“Yes, one man was killed, while two women aged 25 and 35 years, who are wives of the Seriki Fulani, were abducted,” the police commissioner said.
Ojo explained that preliminary investigations suggested that the attackers had specifically targeted the Fulani leader, identified as an Ardo, but failed to capture him.
“The attackers targeted the Fulani leader, Ardo. Before we arrived, the military had already engaged and repelled them, forcing them to flee into the forest. We are currently on their trail,” he added.
The latest attack has renewed concerns over security challenges in Edu and other parts of Kwara North, where residents have repeatedly called on security agencies to intensify operations against criminal groups operating within the region.