Bandits stormed the Dinna and Marri communities in Patigi LGA on Thursday, wounding several residents and leaving others missing.

NupekoTv-Lafiagi, a news platform based in Kwara north, reported that the assailants stormed the communities in large number, leaving residents with little or no chance to escape.

It added that while several people sustained injuries during the violent attack, an unspecified number of residents were reportedly kidnapped. 

Residents, who spoke to Peoples Gazette on condition of anonymity on Friday said, “Yes, I can confirm the communities were struck by gunmen who came in large numbers Thursday evening. I don’t know the number of people abducted, but many people sustained injuries.” 

Another resident, who accused the Kwara government of abandoning the communities, said the invaders stormed the communities on Thursday evening. 

“They came full armed and surrounded the village. While I could not confirm whether people were killed, I know many people, including some of my friends, were wounded and abducted. The state government should be blamed for not paying attention to the growing attacks in Kwara north,” he stated.

Meanwhile, there were reports that bandits killed at least four farmers in Mari, Dinna and Emikpangi villages on Thursday evening. 

When contacted on Friday, police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi did not immediately confirm the attacks when contacted

Last week, Rafiu Ajakaye, chief press secretary to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, said the government acknowledged festering insecurity as a serious national problem and that efforts and resources were being channelled to address the situation.

“We readily acknowledge that banditry and terrorism are a serious problem. We do not make any show of whose deaths are more; a human life is priceless. Every resource is being channelled to end the madness of the bad faith actors. The security agencies are never left without the support of the state government. This is in hundreds of millions of naira every month,” Mr Ajakaye stated.