Kwara State has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks orchestrated by armed bandits, resulting in significant casualties and multiple abductions across various local government areas. The most prominent of these incidents occurred in the early hours of Sunday, September 28, 2025, in Oke-Ode, located within the Ifelodun Local Government Area, where a brutal invasion claimed the lives of several residents.

The Kwara State Police Command, through its spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the death of 12 people in the Oke-Ode attack. According to the police statement, at approximately 7:00 am, armed men stormed the Ogba-Ayo area, opening fire indiscriminately. A swift response by a combined team of police operatives and the National Forest Security Service led to the discovery of 12 lifeless bodies, all members of local vigilante groups, including the Baale of Ogba-Ayo. The victims reportedly sustained multiple gunshot wounds, while four injured individuals were promptly transported to a hospital for treatment. The police emphasized that efforts to track down the perpetrators are ongoing, with collaboration from the military and the National Forest Security Service.

Further reports detailed the extensive nature of the Oke-Ode assault, indicating that bandits specifically targeted newly recruited forest guards, hunters, vigilantes, and civilians. Unconfirmed sources suggest the death toll from these coordinated incidents could be over 15. Among those killed were community leaders identified as Oji, Saheed Metubi, and the Baale of Ogba Ayo. Additionally, four members of a single family were abducted before the attackers fled the scene. Witnesses recounted that bodies of the slain vigilantes were later taken to the police station, and the injured were rushed to the General Hospital in Share. A local vigilante leader, Ajetunmobi, expressed frustration, stating that authorities had been alerted about the bandits' movements since Saturday night but failed to prevent the attack, which began at a duty post. Viral videos circulating online starkly depicted the aftermath, showing the lifeless bodies of vigilantes, highlighting the tragedy's severity.

The wave of insecurity extended beyond Oke-Ode. Just hours prior, in Tsaragi, Edu Local Government Area, a businessman known as Suleiman Ndana, or "Manager," was abducted. Witnesses reported that heavily armed men stormed his residence around midnight, firing shots into the air before whisking him away. Ndana, who recently built a fuel station, was believed to be the primary target. Other recent incidents included the killing of a driver and the abduction of four passengers in Omu Aran, whose whereabouts remain unknown, and the kidnapping of Aisha Gogo and a 16-year-old girl named Amina during a midnight raid in Maganiko Ndanangi, Lafiagi Emirate, four days earlier.

Community leaders and government officials have reacted with grave concern. Alhaji Ganiyu Ajala, National President of the Oke-Ode Community Development Association, condemned the killings and called upon the government to intensify its security operations to completely dislodge criminal elements from the region. Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq expressed profound sorrow over the killings, offering heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and paying tribute to the vigilantes and forest guards who bravely resisted the attackers. The Governor acknowledged the public's concern and grief, assuring residents of the government's unwavering commitment to restoring safety while urging them to maintain calm and avoid any reprisal actions. In a significant move, the Army Headquarters has directed the General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army in Ibadan to temporarily relocate to Kwara State to coordinate operations against the criminals.

The escalating security situation has also impacted public services. The Kwara State Ministry of Health announced the relocation of its scheduled medical and surgical outreach program for Ifelodun Local Government from Oke-Ode to Omupo Cottage Hospital. Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, the Commissioner for Health, confirmed that this decision was made after a careful review of the security landscape in the affected area, underscoring the severity of the crisis facing Kwara State.