The wave of bandit attacks ravaging parts of Kwara North has taken a fresh and tragic turn, as gunmen invaded Rani Ramat village in Patigi Local Government Area on Sunday evening, killing one person and abducting the village head.
According to NupekoTV-Lafiagi, the attack occurred around 6:20 p.m., coinciding with the Maghrib (sunset) prayer, when residents had gathered at the mosque.
Witnesses said the assailants stormed the community on motorcycles and began shooting indiscriminately, throwing the village into chaos.
During the assault, Alhaji Liman was reportedly shot dead on the spot, while the attackers abducted the village head, Alhaji Ndako, and fled with him to an unknown location.
A resident who spoke to local sources said the attackers stormed the village without warning and opened fire indiscriminately, throwing the entire community into chaos.
The latest incident underscores the growing insecurity in the Patigi Emirate, where rural communities have continued to suffer repeated raids and kidnappings.
Meanwhile, Kwara State has witnessed a series of deadly bandit attacks in recent weeks.
For instance, last Friday, SaharaReporters reported that bandits struck early in the morning in Bareke, Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of the state.
SaharaReporters learnt that the assailants targeted a residential home around 2 a.m., abducting a woman and her two children.
The woman’s husband narrowly escaped with injuries during the raid, which occurred near the residence of Senator Karimi in Egbe.
The attack followed a similar incident in Ejiba, on Thursday, another community in Yagba West, where a commercial bus was attacked and all passengers were kidnapped.
During that incident, SaharaReporters learnt that a motorcyclist identified by serial number 256 was reportedly killed.
These recent incidents highlight a growing wave of insecurity in Kogi’s Yagba West area, raising concerns among residents about the safety of their lives and property.
In a related incident, SaharaReporters reported on Thursday that bandits stormed Bethel Farm in Ejiba, Yagba West LGA, on the night of Wednesday, October 1, kidnapping three individuals.
Community sources told SaharaReporters that earlier on Wednesday morning, along the route between Ejiba and Odo-Eri, the gang attacked a bread distributor, shooting one of the staff members during the assault.
Photographs obtained by SaharaReporters show a burnt motorcycle believed to belong to vigilante officers who confronted the bandits during the night attack.
On Friday, September 26, 2025, SaharaReporters released a video showing Okunran, a community in Yagba West LGA, completely deserted after residents fled following recent deadly attacks by armed bandits.
The footage showed abandoned homes and empty streets, highlighting the scale of the exodus. Sources said the mass flight was prompted by repeated assaults on the community, forcing locals to seek safety elsewhere.
