Shagbe community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State was thrown into mourning on Saturday evening after gunmen stormed the area, killing residents and abducting several others in a daring assault on the palace of the Onishagbe of Shagbe.
Eyewitnesses said the heavily armed assailants arrived in large numbers and operated for several hours without resistance. The attackers reportedly forced their way into the monarch’s palace, apparently targeting the traditional ruler or members of his household, but failed to achieve their objective.
Distress Calls Ignored
Residents who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed anger and frustration over what they described as the slow response of security agencies.
“For hours, we kept calling security operatives while the attack was ongoing, but no help came,” one resident lamented. “People were killed, others were taken away, and the bandits left without any challenge.”
The exact number of casualties and abducted residents remained unclear as of press time, though community sources confirmed multiple deaths and abductions.
Growing Wave of Insecurity
Saturday’s assault is the latest in a series of violent incidents in Kwara State, particularly within Ifelodun Local Government Area.
Barely two weeks earlier, suspected bandits struck Babanla community in the same local government, abducting two people just hours after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had visited the area to reassure residents of government’s commitment to improved security.
That attack, which came shortly after the governor’s departure, heightened anxiety and undermined confidence in the government’s promises of stronger protection for rural dwellers.
In a brief statement, the Kwara State government said it was monitoring the Shagbe attack and working with security agencies to restore calm. Officials assured residents that measures were being put in place to track down the perpetrators and prevent further violence.
Despite these assurances, communities across Ifelodun and other rural parts of the state continue to complain about delayed or inadequate security interventions during such crises.