Terrorists on Wednesday night invaded Ahun community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting a woman and her two children in an attack that threw residents into panic.
The assailants were said to have stormed the community at about 9 p.m., shooting sporadically into the air to scare villagers and prevent resistance.
Sources in the area said the abducted woman is married to the son of the driver to the traditional ruler of Oro-Ago, popularly known as Baba Segun.
During the attack, the victim’s mother-in-law, identified as Mama Segun, was reportedly macheted by the attackers while they were fleeing with the abductees.
Eyewitnesses disclosed that the gunmen operated in the community for about 40 minutes before escaping with the victims to an unknown destination.
A member of the local vigilante group, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident caused widespread fear among residents, with many considering leaving the community for safety the following day.
However, the traditional ruler of Oro-Ago, was said to have appealed to residents not to abandon the town.
According to the vigilante source, the monarch reportedly urged villagers to remain calm, asking rhetorically, “If everyone leaves now, who will I rule over?”
The source further alleged that the monarch directed security operatives stationed in Oro-Ago to prevent vehicles from conveying residents out of Ahun and neighbouring communities.
Meanwhile, a relative of Baba Segun based in Ilorin commended members of the community vigilante group for their swift response during the attack.
“My family in Ahun called me around 9 p.m. on Wednesday to inform me that gunmen had invaded the community.
“The first thing I asked was about the safety of my aged mother in the village,” he said.
He added that the quick intervention of the vigilantes helped prevent more destruction.
An artisan in the community also recounted the incident, noting that residents were caught unprepared by the sudden invasion.
“The attackers came at night when we least expected them.
“They were shooting everywhere and people were running in different directions.
“We thank God for the vigilantes who stood their ground. Without them, the gunmen would have caused more damage,” he said.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday held a meeting with members of the vigilante group and other stakeholders in Ifelodun Local Government Area to review the security situation in the area.
As of the time of filing this report, the outcome of the meeting had not been made public.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
