At least 10 residents have been killed and several homes set ablaze following fresh attacks by suspected bandits in parts of Kwara State, security sources and local leaders have confirmed.
The attacks reportedly took place overnight in rural communities near the Kwara–Kogi border, where bandit groups have in recent months stepped up raids on villages, targeting both residents and passers‑by. Witnesses said the assailants rode into the communities on motorcycles, firing indiscriminately and setting fire to houses before retreating into nearby forests.
Villagers who survived the onslaught described scenes of terror as families fled with only the clothes on their backs. “They just came suddenly, shooting everywhere, and people were running for their lives,” one resident told reporters. “When we looked back, they were burning homes. Some people we knew well didn’t make it.”
Community leaders confirmed that 10 bodies were recovered by early morning and taken for burial rites, while others are still feared missing. Several houses and structures were also burned during the attacks, displacing dozens of families and leaving the affected areas in shock.
Security operatives from the Kwara State Police Command and local vigilante groups were reportedly deployed to the scene following distress calls, but the bandits had already fled by the time reinforcements arrived. Police confirmed the deaths in a brief statement, adding that an investigation has been launched and efforts are under way to track down the attackers.
The incident is the latest in a string of violent attacks affecting rural communities across Kwara’s border areas, where bandits and armed raiders have repeatedly struck, stealing livestock, burning property, and abducting residents for ransom. The attacks have heightened fear among farmers and villagers, many of whom now avoid nighttime travel and have abandoned farms for safer locations.
State security officials have appealed to residents to remain calm and report any suspicious movements, saying joint operations with the army, police and local guards are ongoing to curb the insecurity. Meanwhile, humanitarian groups are mobilising assistance for the displaced families, providing food, shelter and basic support as the communities begin to recover.
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