Suspected terrorists have kidnapped four residents of Kakafu community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State after storming the town in a dawn operation that sent villagers running for safety.
Residents said the attackers, believed to be about ten in number, invaded the agrarian settlement early Sunday and began shooting sporadically to create panic.
The gunfire reportedly forced families out of their homes as they scrambled for cover.
Amid the chaos, four individuals attempting to escape were seized and whisked away toward a forested area on the outskirts of the town.
Community sources indicated that most of those abducted are women, although their identities had yet to be officially confirmed as of press time.
A local resident, who requested anonymity due to security concerns, described the assault as swift and calculated.
“They came shooting into the air and everyone started running,” the source said.
“Before we realised what was happening, four people had been captured and taken away. Many families have now fled to nearby villages for safety.”
Moreover, the latest abduction has deepened anxiety across rural communities in Patigi, where residents say armed groups have become increasingly audacious.
Locals argue that the absence of sustained security presence has emboldened criminal elements operating in the region.
“This is no longer an isolated case,” the resident added. “These attackers now move freely, and villagers feel abandoned.”
However, the Sunday incident did not occur in isolation. It followed another violent episode less than 24 hours earlier along Gamji Road in Gbugbu, where suspected bandits reportedly targeted a vigilante and community guards’ checkpoint.
Security authorities had yet to issue an official statement regarding the back-to-back attacks at the time this report was filed.
Meanwhile, community leaders are calling for urgent reinforcement of security patrols to prevent further kidnappings in Kwara’s rural districts.
The spate of attacks has once again raised concerns over escalating insecurity in parts of Kwara State, particularly within remote communities vulnerable to armed incursions.