1 killed, pregnant woman abducted in Kwara community

A man has been killed and a pregnant woman abducted following a weekend attack by suspected bandits on Rifun village in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State. The midnight assault, which occurred during an overnight gathering in the community, has thrown residents into confusion and forced many to flee their homes. Several calls to […]

A man has been killed and a pregnant woman abducted following a weekend attack by suspected bandits on Rifun village in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The midnight assault, which occurred during an overnight gathering in the community, has thrown residents into confusion and forced many to flee their homes.

Several calls to the police PRO, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, and the commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo were not answered.

A community leader, Mohammed Ibrahim, blamed negligence for the incident in a telephone chat with Daily Trust on Monday.

“Our Emir had warned that nobody should hold any ceremony till midnight again that they should stop whatever they are doing by 10pm. But this particular ceremony was up to past 2am when the bandits struck,” he said.

The National President of the Patigi Emirate Development Union, Alhaji Umar Solihu Bologi, confirmed the incident on Monday to Daily Trust.

There had been reports that four people were abducted in Kakanfu, a mining community in Patigi local government area.

But the PEDU chairman revealed that the incident took place in Rifun and not in the Kakafu community as earlier reported in some quarters.

“I can confirm that unfortunately, one person, a male, was killed and a pregnant woman was abducted and since then, we have not heard anything about her,” Bologi said.

He explained that shortly after the attack on Rifun, the gunmen proceeded to Tankpafu village where they carted away several motorcycles without recording further casualties.

“Immediately the bandits left Rifun, they went straight to another village called Tankpafu where they carted away so many motorbikes but there were no casualties. It was in one of the bikes that they took the abducted pregnant woman away in. The community has not been contacted as to how we are going to negotiate her release,” he added.

Bologi dismissed reports that a separate kidnapping occurred in Kakafu, stressing that the communities are distinct and located in different districts of Patigi Local Government Area.

“Though the entire Patigi community has been thrown into confusion,” he said.

He explained that Rifun and Tankpafu are located in the Pada district, close to Patigi town, while Kakafu is in the Lade district, an area known for mining activities.

According to him, the affected communities are in urgent need of security reinforcement and government support as many residents have abandoned their homes and farmlands over fears of another attack.

“Most of the residents have left the affected communities leaving their land and farms behind. They are now taking shelter elsewhere. If security personnel are stationed in the area, those who fled will be able to return and continue with their farming activities. The government needs to intervene swiftly before normalcy can return,” Bologi said.