A fresh wave of banditry has hit Kwara State as gunmen stormed Kakafu village in Lade District, Patigi Local Government Area, killing a local vigilante commander and abducting residents.

The commander, identified as Tetengi, was reportedly shot dead around 10 p.m. on Wednesday when the heavily armed attackers invaded the community and opened fire. Witnesses said he died while bravely confronting the bandits in a bid to protect his people.

Residents described the attack as terrifying, saying the community was thrown into panic as some villagers were taken away by the gunmen. However, the exact number of abducted victims could not be confirmed as of press time.

A source lamented the lack of timely security reinforcements, accusing authorities of failing to respond to distress calls during the incident. He urged the government to step up its fight against the growing wave of bandit attacks in Patigi LGA and surrounding areas.

The development has also worsened fears among INEC staff in Patigi and Edu LGAs, who have abandoned their offices due to persistent insecurity. Many fear that electoral officials could be targeted as “soft victims” by bandits. Residents say the closure of INEC offices is frustrating the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and weakening public trust in government security assurances.

Security insiders warn that the abduction of INEC officials would cause a national embarrassment and increase pressure on the Tinubu administration. Some staff revealed that they had been told there would be no ransom payments if abducted, leaving them reluctant to risk their lives.

Locals insist urgent action is needed, as repeated attacks have forced many communities in Patigi to live in fear and uncertainty.