Bandits continue siege on Kwara, kill community leader, nine villagers

Bandits on Sunday morning killed at least 10 people, including a village head, during an attack on Oke-Ode in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state.

A community source said the assailants stormed the area, shooting sporadically, killing, maiming and abducting an unspecified number of residents.

A member of the local vigilante group, identified as Ajetunmobi, told Sobi FM that the government had failed to tackle insecurity in the state.

His words: “We had been hearing since Saturday night that the bandits were around the community, and we sent out messages to security operatives to be prepared.

“To our surprise, this morning the attackers started from the duty post, targeting the vigilantes. Government only engages in propaganda, they did not repel the attackers as claimed.”

Among those killed were Oji, Saheed Metubi, and Baale Ógba Ayo. The bodies were said to have been deposited at the police station, while the injured were taken to the General Hospital in Share.

Alhaji Ganiyu Ajala, national president of the Oke-Ode Community Development Association, condemned the killings and called for stronger security measures.

“While commending the government on the various security measures already put in place, we call for a redoubling of efforts towards completely routing these undesirable elements from the Oke-Ode axis and the entire state in general,” Ajala said.