Terror In Kwara: Suspected Bandits Storm Idofin Odo Ashe, Residents Flee As Schools Remain Shut For Months

Ilorin,  Kwara State– Panic has gripped Idofin Odo Ashe community in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State following a fresh invasion by suspected bandits who reportedly stormed the area on Thursday evening, shooting indiscriminately.

A local source told Afrika Eyes that the attackers, believed to be kidnappers, have effectively taken over the community, forcing residents to flee for safety.

“The kidnappers came in this evening and started shooting at anything in sight. People are running up and down, trying to escape. The situation is very bad,” the source said.

Residents described scenes of chaos and confusion as families abandoned their homes in a desperate bid to avoid being caught in the attack.

This latest assault is not an isolated incident, as the community has reportedly suffered repeated invasions by armed groups in recent months, raising concerns over the worsening security situation in the area.

The prolonged insecurity has also crippled education in Idofin Odo Ashe.

The source told Afrika Eyes that Government Secondary School Idofin, along with three primary schools in the community, has remained closed for the past five months due to persistent threats and attacks.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the latest attack.

On March 27, 2026, Afrika Eyes reported that residents of Idofin Odo Ashe community  staged a protest over what they described as the continuous killings and kidnappings carried out by terrorists in the area, forcing many villagers to flee their homes.

The angry residents, made up mostly of elderly women and youths, trooped out in large numbers carrying placards with different inscriptions, lamenting that insecurity has become a daily reality in their community.

Some of the placards displayed during the protest read: “End Insecurity in Idofin Odo Ashe, We Sleep In Fear Everyday,” “Idofin Odo Ashe Needs Security, Do Not Abandon Rural Communities,” “We Need Peace, Government of Kwara State Come To Our Aid, Idofin Odo Ashe Is Bleeding,” and “Innocent Souls Are Brutally Murdered In Idofin Odo Ashe, Come To Our Aid.”

The protesters marched through parts of the community, expressing fear over what they described as unchecked attacks by armed kidnappers and bandits who frequently invade the town.

According to the residents, the worsening insecurity has led to the killing of several people and the abduction of others over the past months, forcing families to abandon their homes in search of safety in nearby towns.

Speaking during the protest, one elderly woman appealed passionately to the government of Kwara State to urgently intervene and rescue the community from the persistent attacks.

“Kwara State government please help us. Our community has become deserted. People are leaving Idofin Odo Ashe because bandits killed a young man,” the woman said emotionally.

She added that many residents now live in constant fear as criminals continue to operate in the area without resistance.

One of the protesters who spoke to Afrika Eyes on Thursday said the attacks have been ongoing for about eight months, with kidnappers allegedly striking almost every day.

“We citizens are calling on the government of Kwara State and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to help stop the terrorists and the daily killing and kidnapping of our people,” the protester said.

He further explained that the situation has deteriorated to the point where villagers now live under constant fear of attacks.