Tragedy struck in Kwara State on Sunday as armed bandits carried out coordinated attacks in Patigi Local Government Area, killing two people—including a village head—and abducting two others.
Among the victims was Reverend James Audu Issa, a cleric with the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) in Ekati village, who was reportedly murdered despite a ransom payment made by his family.
According to local sources, Rev. Issa was kidnapped on August 28, and his abductors initially demanded ₦100 million for his release. After negotiations, his family managed to raise ₦5 million, which was paid to the kidnappers. However, the criminals later demanded an additional ₦45 million. Before further discussions could take place, the pastor was allegedly killed over the weekend.
A community leader who spoke anonymously described the killing as a “devastating escalation” of banditry in Kwara North, saying that residents now live in constant fear. “The murder of the pastor shows how emboldened these criminals have become. People can no longer move freely, farm, or conduct business without fear,” he lamented.
In another attack on the same day, gunmen stormed Rani village, also in Patigi LGA, while residents were preparing for the evening Maghrib prayer. The assailants reportedly opened fire indiscriminately, killing two people before abducting the village head and one other person.
Residents said the attackers have not yet contacted the families of the kidnapped victims for ransom, leaving the community in deep anxiety. “The situation here is tense. We can’t go to the farms or even move freely. We are appealing to both state and federal authorities to deploy more security forces to restore peace,” one villager pleaded.
A senior officer at the Patigi Divisional Police Station confirmed the incidents, stating that the matter had been reported to the Kwara State Police Command for further investigation and rescue efforts.
The renewed wave of attacks has heightened concerns over rising insecurity in rural parts of Kwara, where communities continue to face threats from armed groups involved in kidnappings, killings, and extortion.
