Suspected bandits attacked a Fulani settlement in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing one resident and abducting two women on Monday night.
The assault took place around 8 p.m. in the Sodo/Sawmill area on the outskirts of the town. Eyewitnesses reported that the gunmen stormed the community, firing indiscriminately and causing widespread panic among villagers.
According to sources, the attackers appeared to be searching for a prominent Fulani leader but were unable to find him. Instead, they abducted two women believed to be his wives before fleeing the scene. One resident lost his life during the chaos.
Security forces responded to distress calls, and troops reportedly engaged the assailants, forcing them to retreat into a nearby forest.
Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed the incident on Tuesday. “Yes, one man was killed while two women, aged 25 and 35, who are wives of the Seriki Fulani, were abducted,” Ojo stated. He added that preliminary investigations indicated the assailants had targeted the Fulani leader, known as the Ardo, but failed to capture him.
“We are still on their trail because, before we arrived, the military had already repelled them and they escaped into the forest. Our search for them continues,” the commissioner said.
The incident has reignited concerns over rising insecurity in Edu and nearby local government areas, where residents have persistently urged authorities to strengthen security operations against criminal groups in the Kwara North region.
