UPDATE: Bandits Kill 10, Abduct Several in Oke Ode Community Despite Govt’s Denial
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Contrary to claims by a government source that security operatives had repelled an attack in Oke Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, no fewer than 10 persons were confirmed killed on Sunday morning when bandits invaded the community.
An unspecified number of residents were also reportedly kidnapped.
A member of the local vigilante group in the town, identified simply as Ajetunmobi, told Sobi FM that the government was engaging in propaganda over the incident.
“We have been hearing that the bandits were around the community since Saturday night and we sent out messages to security operatives to be prepared. To our surprise, this morning the attackers started the attack from the duty post, targeting the vigilantes,” he said.
According to him, among those killed were community members identified as Oji, Saheed Metubi, Baale Ógba Ayo, among others.
He said the corpses had been taken to the police station while the injured were rushed to the General Hospital in Share.
He accused the government of failing in its primary duty of protecting citizens, noting that intelligence about a possible attack had circulated days earlier.
“The government failed in its primary duty. Information has been circulating for some time now that they are planning to attack Oke Ode. Why were the soldiers withdrawn?” he asked.
Meanwhile, the National President of the Oke Ode Community Development Association, Alhaji Ganiyu Ajala, while condemning the killings, urged the state government to intensify its security measures.
“While commending the government on the various security measures already put in place, we call for redoubling of efforts towards completely routing these undesirable elements from the Oke Ode axis and the entire state in general,” Ajala said.
As of the time of filing this report, the police command in Kwara had yet to release an official statement on the attack.
