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Residents of Kwara Flee as Bandits Overwhelm Vigilantes and Set Vehicles Ablaze

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 5th, 2025.

Residents of Kwara Flee as Bandits Overwhelm Vigilantes and Set Vehicles Ablaze

Kwara Map

Tension and fear have gripped Lata Nna community and neighboring villages in the Kwara North district of Kwara State following a violent attack by suspected bandits. The armed assailants reportedly launched their assault late Friday evening, causing widespread panic and forcing residents to abandon their homes.

According to eyewitness accounts shared with NupekoTV, the bandits ambushed a group of vigilantes returning from patrol in the bush, overpowering them and setting their vehicles on fire. The incident, which occurred around 7:30 pm, sent shockwaves throughout Lata Nna and nearby communities including Kokodo and Gada.

One distressed resident described the terrifying sound of gunfire and the chaos that ensued. “The gunshots were terrifying,” he said, recalling how families fled in fear for their safety.

The community member strongly dismissed rumors that the attack was fabricated, expressing frustration and condemning such claims. “Whoever says it’s false will face divine punishment. Why would I risk my family’s safety with lies? Since Monday, we’ve been living in fear of this,” he stated. He invited skeptics to visit Lata Nna to see the reality firsthand.

The resident further highlighted the advanced weaponry used by the bandits, emphasizing the difficulty vigilantes face in confronting such well-armed groups.

Urgent calls are now being made for government intervention to secure the area and protect vulnerable communities from further attacks.

This latest incident adds to a growing wave of insecurity in Kwara North, intensifying pressure on security agencies to respond more effectively.

Just last week, panic spread through Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area after suspected bandits raided the area, abducting two teenage girls—Aisha Yahaya and Mariam Yusuf, aged 16 and 17. The kidnappers reportedly arrived on motorcycles around 8:30 pm, firing shots into the air to intimidate residents.

Eyewitnesses told Sobi FM that the attackers had initially tried to abduct the wife of the traditional ruler, who narrowly escaped.