By Our Correspondent

Kwara State is grappling with a fresh wave of insecurity following a series of deadly attacks by armed bandits that have left many dead, others abducted, and several communities in fear.

In recent weeks, reports have emerged of coordinated assaults across parts of Patigi and Ifelodun local government areas, with victims ranging from villagers to security personnel and political leaders.

At least 12 forest guards were killed in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area, after unidentified gunmen invaded the forest. Four others survived with injuries and are receiving treatment in hospital. Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the area with heavy weapons, firing indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee.

In another incident in Matogu, Patigi LGA, suspected Fulani bandits killed 10 people, including a pregnant woman, and abducted seven villagers. The attackers reportedly struck around 6 a.m. and operated for about four hours without resistance. Villagers recounted how the community was left helpless until the gunmen departed.

Elsewhere in Patigi, a ward chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abdullahi Kpotun, and his son were killed when suspected kidnappers attempted to seize them from their home in Lile village.

Also in Motokun and Agboro villages, bandits struck again, killing a police officer and a woman while abducting six residents and injuring several others.

The series of killings and abductions have heightened tension across the state, with many residents now fearful of going to their farms or traveling to markets. Community leaders have appealed to government and security agencies to step up protection, warning that confidence in the state’s ability to defend its people is at breaking point.

A resident of Oke-Ode expressed the community’s frustration: “If security personnel themselves are being killed, who is left to defend us? We are begging the government to send more soldiers and provide equipment so that we can live without fear.”

Analysts say the attacks underscore the fragility of Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly in northern states where banditry and kidnapping have become rampant. They urge authorities to invest in intelligence gathering, modern equipment, and better coordination to prevent such tragedies.

As residents mourn, the unanswered question remains: if forest guards, police officers, and even political leaders can be cut down so easily in their own communities, who is truly safe in Kwara or anywhere in Nigeria?