A police officer attached to the Lade Division in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, identified as Ezra John, has been abducted by suspected bandits, sparking renewed concerns over worsening insecurity in the North-Central state.
John was reportedly seized along the notorious Patigi–Lade Road while returning from an official duty at Patigi General Hospital. Witnesses said he was overpowered by gunmen who whisked him into the bush, further heightening fear among residents already traumatised by frequent attacks in the area.
Reacting to the incident, a former Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development in Kwara State, Mahalia Aisha Ahman-Pategi, lamented the state’s deteriorating security situation, describing the trend as “too daring and worrisome.”
She urged security agencies to scale up collaboration and move swiftly to restore confidence among citizens, warning that unchecked banditry could cripple socio-economic activities in the region.
In a related development, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, condemned recent killings of Yoruba natives in Oke Ode, Kwara State, allegedly by suspected Fulani herders.
In a statement by his media aide, Bode Durojaiye, the monarch described the assailants as “blood guzzlers and enemies of state and reason,” insisting that they must not escape justice. He revealed that he had reached out to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to demand decisive action.
Governor AbdulRazaq, in response, assured that a military battalion had been deployed to the troubled axis to forestall further bloodshed. He hailed the Alaafin’s intervention, describing him as a “visionary leader and Titan of Yorubaland.”
Also weighing in, the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, condoled with families of the victims and called on security operatives to intensify surveillance across Kwara, Kogi and other border communities in the Southwest.
Adams, visibly disturbed, said: “It is painful that despite repeated warnings, such killings persist. Intelligence has long revealed the presence of terrorists masquerading as herders and bandits across parts of the region. Authorities must act decisively.”
He further appealed to residents of Oke Ode and adjoining towns to remain vigilant and partner with security agencies by providing timely information on suspicious movements.
In recent months, Kwara and parts of neighbouring Kogi State have suffered a spate of armed incursions, leading to deaths, kidnappings and displacement of residents. Community leaders and traditional rulers have continued to demand stronger government response to what they describe as a creeping wave of insurgency.
