Insecurity
BREAKING: Terrorists Kill Two Vigilantes In Kwara Community, Seize Motorcycles Amid Fresh Threats To Attack Kwara South After Sallah
According to sources in the area, the two vigilantes had gone out to escort a vehicle conveying a corpse from Oro-Ago to Igana community when they were attacked by the gunmen.
Ilorin, Kwara State– Suspected terrorists believed to be bandits have killed two local vigilantes in Igana community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, raising fresh fears among residents over worsening insecurity in the Kwara South region.
Afrika Eyes gathered that the incident occurred on Tuesday morning when the vigilantes were ambushed and killed while carrying out a community security duty.
According to sources in the area, the two vigilantes had gone out to escort a vehicle conveying a corpse from Oro-Ago to Igana community when they were attacked by the gunmen.
A community source who spoke with Afrika Eyes disclosed that the vigilantes were on their motorcycles heading to meet the vehicle bringing the corpse when the suspected bandits waylaid them along the road and opened fire.
“The vigilantes were alerted early in the morning to guide a car bringing a corpse from Oro-Ago to Igana community for burial,” the source said.
“On their way to meet the vehicle, the terrorists ambushed them close to the town. They shot and killed the two vigilantes and took away their motorcycles.”
The source added that the location of the attack was close to the spot where a woman had previously been kidnapped under a bridge in the same area, highlighting the growing insecurity confronting residents.
“The place where they were killed is not far from where a woman was kidnapped some time ago under a bridge,” the source added.
Following the attack, a police team from Oro-Ago reportedly moved to the scene and conveyed the lifeless bodies of the slain vigilantes back to the community.
“The police van from Oro-Ago later carried their lifeless bodies back to Igana community,” the source told AfrikaEyes.
Residents of the community and surrounding areas in Kwara South have continued to express deep concern over the increasing activities of bandits and terrorists, warning that the situation is becoming unbearable.
A resident who spoke to Afrika Eyes expressed fear that the attackers have allegedly vowed to launch more attacks on communities in the region after the upcoming Sallah celebration.
“What can we do now in Kwara South? These bandits have vowed that they will attack Kwara South after Sallah,” the resident lamented.
“They said they will take over our land and our wives, and they will kill and kidnap our people.”
The resident questioned what steps the government is taking to address the deteriorating security situation in the region.
“What is the government doing about this matter? Do they want to chase us out from our ancestral land?” the resident asked.
Communities in Kwara South, particularly in Ifelodun Local Government Area, have in recent years raised alarm over increasing attacks, kidnappings and killings linked to armed groups suspected to be bandits operating in forests around the region.
Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement regarding the latest killings as of the time of filing this report.
Afrika Eyes had reported that armed bandits on Sunday stormed a church in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, beating a 90-year-old blind woman and abducting a pastor’s wife alongside seven other worshippers in a brazen attack that has thrown the community into fear and confusion.
Afrika Eyes gathered that the attack which occurred during a church service, marks the third time bandits have invaded the community, raising fresh concerns over worsening insecurity in the area.
The victims identified include Chief David Afolayan, Chief Joseph Ibitoye Afariogun, Mr Joshua Adeyemi Jogo, Mrs Rachel Omopariola, Mrs Mosúnmọ́lá Afolayan, Mrs Bukola Sunday, Mrs Anti (Mama Gbeke), and Mrs Remilekun Omole, the wife of the presiding pastor.
Narrating the attack, the pastor of the church, ECWA, Omogo, Mr Omole Sunday Timothy, recounted how the attackers struck in the middle of worship, forcing congregants to flee for their lives.
“My name is Omole Sunday Timothy. I’m the minister in charge of the church, ECWA. I was leading the programme when we were alerted by one of the members who saw them coming towards the church premises,” he said.
“They had already entered the premises and were approaching the church building. Immediately we were alerted, I told all the members that we should run. Everybody scattered.”
The cleric explained that he escaped through the back door, scaling a fence into the bush alongside some members, while others hid in different parts of the church building.
“I went through the back door, jumped the fence and entered the bush with some members. Some hid in other rooms and the pastor’s office. We thank God they were unable to enter those places,” he added.
However, his wife was among those abducted.
“My wife was among the 11 people that were kidnapped before they released some. A child and two elderly women were later abandoned, not rescued. Because they were old and unable to move with the way they were treated, the kidnappers felt they would delay them,” he said.
