By: Security Desk
At dawn on Sunday, armed men invaded Oke-Ode community in Ifelodun LGA of Kwara State, killing 12 vigilantes, including the Baale of Ogbayo.
Police confirmed the raid happened at 7 a.m. as vigilantes resisted the attackers. Four others were injured, while survivors say bandits fired indiscriminately.
Police PRO SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi called the killings “heinous,” pledging a manhunt with military support. Commissioner Adekimi Ojo vowed: “Justice will be served.”
Grassroots Defenders Targeted
This is the latest in a wave of raids across Kwara. Analysts note vigilantes, once community defenders, are increasingly hunted. “The state risks vigilante collapse if such killings continue,” said criminologist Abiodun Fatai.
Fear Spreads Beyond Oke-Ode
Videos from the aftermath show bodies laid out in mourning. Residents lament abandonment. “We have been left alone,” said one relative. The killings compound fears of North-Central states sliding deeper into bandit terror.
Security Response Tested
Authorities promise more patrols and coordination with the National Forest Security Service. But residents demand structural reforms to stop recurring attacks.
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