Bandits abduct APC chairman’s wife, daughter in Kwara

Suspected armed bandits have abducted the wife and daughter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman of Sakpefu community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Muhammad Swasun. The assailants, who reportedly arrived around 11pm on Sunday, fired sporadically into the air to disperse residents before forcing their way into the politician’s residence. […]

Suspected armed bandits have abducted the wife and daughter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman of Sakpefu community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Muhammad Swasun.

The assailants, who reportedly arrived around 11pm on Sunday, fired sporadically into the air to disperse residents before forcing their way into the politician’s residence.

His wife, Hajiya Fatima, and daughter, Amina, were whisked away in the raid that lasted several minutes, it was gathered.

Residents told Daily Trust that the bandits made no attempt to attack any other household, suggesting the APC chairman’s family was directly targeted.

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According to a resident, James Ibrahim, “they should be about four to five and they headed straight for his house and took the two of them away.”

Despite immediate efforts by local vigilantes who mobilised to pursue the attackers, no trace of the victims or their abductors had been found as of Monday morning.

Confirming the incident in a telephone conversation, the chairman of Patigi Local Government, Hon. Ahmed Rufai, told Daily Trust that security agencies had been alerted and were already working with community hunters to track down the perpetrators.

“We are yet to receive any contact from the kidnappers. The government and security operatives are making every effort to ensure their safe rescue,” he assured.

The abduction is coming at a time when troops of the Nigerian Army have been stepping up operations across the northern flank of the state to tackle rising criminal activities.

Only last week, soldiers of 22 Armoured Brigade, stationed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Patigi, foiled an attempted movement of armed bandits along Lema-Daban Lema road in Edu Local Government Area.

Acting on intelligence, the troops staged an ambush that led to a gun duel where one of the criminals was killed. Weapons, including an AK-47 rifle with a fully loaded magazine, as well as a motorcycle, were recovered.