By By Elizabeth Ugbo
Suspected bandits attacked a Fulani settlement in the Sodo/Sawmill area of Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State on Monday night, killing one resident and abducting two women. The gunmen stormed the community around 8 p.m., fired sporadically, and targeted a prominent Fulani leader known as Ardo. However, they failed to locate him before fleeing with the victims.
Gunmen Invade Settlement
Residents said the attackers arrived in large numbers and opened fire, creating panic across the settlement.
The incident occurred on the outskirts of Lafiagi, a town in Kwara North that has witnessed repeated security threats in recent years.
Sources disclosed that the gunmen specifically searched for the Fulani leader. However, he was not in the area when they arrived.
Security Forces Respond Swiftly
Following distress calls from residents, security operatives moved to the scene.
Troops engaged the attackers in a gun battle and forced them to retreat into a nearby forest. Despite the intervention, the gunmen escaped with two women believed to be wives of the Fulani leader.
One resident also lost his life during the attack.
Police Confirm Killing and Abduction
Confirming the incident on Tuesday, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said one person died while two women were abducted.
“Yes, one man was killed while two women, aged 25 and 35, who are wives of the Seriki Fulani, were abducted,” Ojo said.
He added that preliminary investigations showed the attackers intended to kidnap the Fulani leader.
“The attackers targeted the Fulani leader, Ardo. We are still on their trail. Before we arrived, the military had repelled them, forcing them into the forest,” he stated.
Residents Demand Stronger Security Measures
The latest attack has renewed concerns over insecurity in Edu and surrounding local government areas.
Residents have continued to urge security agencies to intensify operations against criminal groups operating across the Kwara North axis.
Community leaders also called for sustained surveillance and rapid response measures to prevent future attacks.
