The assailants, armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded the area around dawn, shooting indiscriminately, maiming residents, and kidnapping an unknown number of people, leaving the community in shock and mourning.

A reliable source from the community, who requested anonymity, described the assault as relentless, with the bandits targeting homes and public spaces in a spree of violence that began around 5:00 a.m. 

Among the confirmed victims were the Baale of Ogba Ayo, Oji, Saheed Metubi, and several others whose identities are yet to be fully verified. 

The attackers reportedly struck a vigilante duty post first, catching local defenders off guard.In an interview aired on Sobi FM, a local vigilante member, identified only as Ajetunmobi, expressed frustration with the state government’s response to the growing insecurity. 

He dismissed official claims that security forces had repelled the bandits as “mere propaganda.” Ajetunmobi revealed that the community had warned security operatives about the bandits’ presence in the area as early as Saturday night, but no preemptive action was taken. 

“They started the attack from our duty post, targeting the vigilantes,” he said, underscoring the audacity of the assault. 

He confirmed that the bodies of the deceased were taken to a nearby police station, while those injured were rushed to the General Hospital in Share for treatment.

The attack has heightened fears in Oke-Ode, a community already grappling with sporadic banditry and kidnapping in Kwara’s rural north. 

Residents say the latest incident exposes the vulnerability of remote areas despite government assurances of improved security.

Alhaji Ganiyu Ajala, National President of the Oke-Ode Community Development Association, condemned the killings in a statement, describing them as a tragic blow to the community. 

While acknowledging the government’s existing security efforts, Ajala called for urgent and intensified measures to curb the rising tide of violence.

 “We urge the state government to redouble its efforts to completely rout these undesirable elements from the Oke-Ode axis and the entire state,” he said, emphasizing the need for decisive action to restore peace.

The Kwara State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the attack, but sources indicate that security operatives have been deployed to the area to restore calm and pursue the perpetrators. 

The incident adds to growing concerns about the spread of banditry from Nigeria’s northwest to relatively peaceful states like Kwara, with analysts warning that delayed responses could embolden criminal groups.

As Oke-Ode buries its dead and tends to the wounded, the community’s call for justice and protection grows louder, placing pressure on authorities to act swiftly to prevent further bloodshed.