Fresh Attack: Bandits Kidnap Three Family Members in Kwara

Three members of the same family were reportedly kidnapped by suspected bandits in the Agboro community in Kwara State’s Patigi local government area.

However, in the vicinity of Gatawa village in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s Operation Fansan Yanma initiated a rapid-response operation that prevented a terrorist strike.

Investigations reveal that the victims in Kwara were kidnapped on Sunday while returning from a visit of condolence to a family member who had died a few days prior.

Journalists in Ilorin were informed yesterday by sources that the victims’ identities include Ayomide Moses, the deceased’s son, and Abiodun Abidemi and Abiodun Olumide, the deceased’s brothers.

According to sources, the victims were reportedly native residents of the local government’s Agboro neighborhood.

The three victims were reportedly abducted on the fateful day at around seven in the morning.

It was also discovered that the victims’ families had not yet been contacted by the alleged bandits, however sources said that the victims were transported to Isanlu in Kogi State.

However, in an interview with reporters on Monday, a senior police officer from the Patigi Divisional Police Headquarters in Patigi who wished to remain anonymous verified the occurrence. However, Mr. Adekimi Ojo, the state police commissioner, refuted the story, stating, “I am not aware ooo, I am not aware.”

In the meantime, the Nigerian Army’s Operation Fansan Yanma forces initiated a quick-reaction operation in the vicinity of Gatawa village in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, preventing a terrorist strike.

A group of armed bandits had opened fire on a local vigilance group when the soldiers acted on intelligence, forcing the assailants to flee before they could enter the hamlet. According to a security source who wished to remain anonymous, the region was “stable and under control” as a result of the prompt military operation.

The bandits fired intermittently at the villagers and the vigilantes during the incident, which happened at around midnight. After being shot, four members of the neighborhood vigilante group were transported to a local hospital to receive medical attention.

There were no civilian deaths reported throughout the conflict, and their condition is reportedly getting better.

A rumor started to spread on social media during the army’s intervention that a mosque in Sabon Birni had been attacked, murdering an Imam and several worshippers while others were supposedly kidnapped. As soon as the story gained popularity, local authorities had to correct the false information.

Speaking to reporters, Sabon Birni LGA Chairman Alhaji Ayuba Hashimu vehemently disputed the attack on the mosque. “I am not aware of any mosque that has been assaulted, let alone one where an imam and worshippers were killed. He emphasized that no such incident took place in his jurisdiction, saying, “The story is false.”

Alhaji Aminu Boza, the local representative for Sabon Birni in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, also reaffirmed the denial. “I’m not sure how they obtained their narrative, but it’s untrue. Boza informed reporters, “No mosque was attacked by bandits,” advising people to double-check information before disseminating it.

The officials’ remarks coincide with a larger initiative by Sokoto authorities to stop the dissemination of misleading tales that frequently increase anxiety in already unstable areas. Hashimu and Boza both urged responsible reporting and cautioned that false information may impede further security efforts.

The bandits engaged in the Gatawa raid were part of a bigger network that has been active in the Sabon Birni forest district, according to the military source. Following the army’s prompt response, the attackers fled along the Dan-Kamarawa corridor, and troops are now on follow-up patrols to deter further attacks.

This event is the most recent in a string of bandit raids that have afflicted the eastern regions of Sokoto. In a separate clearance operation earlier this year, the army killed the infamous bandit lord Dan Dari Biyar, severely harming the local crime gang.

Gatawa locals were relieved that a more serious catastrophe was avoided thanks to the army’s prompt involvement. “We heard gunfire, but the soldiers arrived within minutes. One villager who wished to remain anonymous said, “They saved our village.”

In an effort to destroy bandit strongholds and rebuild civilian trust, the Nigerian Army’s Operation Fansan Yanma has increased its presence in Sokoto. During a recent visit to the 248 Recce Battalion in Illela, Major General Idris Warrah, the commander of the operation, urged soldiers to “crush the terrorists” and promised better benefits.

Although community collaboration and military pressure have started to produce results, security professionals pointed out that the threat still exists.

A regional security specialist who wished to remain anonymous stated, “Bandits adapt quickly, so sustained operations are essential.”

The Sokoto State administration has promised to back the military’s operations in the wake of the Gatawa raid, including supplying logistical support and arming and training local vigilante organizations.

The difficulty of distinguishing fact from fiction in conflict areas is shown by local officials’ denial of the mosque attack. Particularly on digital platforms, false information can travel quickly and frequently incite fear. Authorities are advising people to trust credible sources, such official press releases or army announcements.

In the meantime, Sokoto police have made strides in breaking up the money networks that support banditry. The bandits’ logistical capabilities have been severely undermined in recent weeks by the arrest of three suspected financiers and the recovery of stolen motorcycles and rustled cattle.

Sabon Birni residents are urged to report any suspicious activity to security services, and the village is still on high alert. In order to prevent further attacks, the army has promised to keep troops in the region.

Rebuilding confidence between the local population and security forces is now the main objective as the Gatawa encounter comes to a close. There is some hope for stability in the area due to the bandits’ successful rejection and the officials’ prompt repudiation of the mosque story.