No fewer than 16 persons have been killed in separate attacks by gunmen on Nasarawa and Kwara communities, marking a bloody Holy week ahead of the Easter celebration.
In Nasarawa State, 11 persons were reported killed, while more than 50 houses were burnt in a fresh attack by hoodlums in Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Nasarawa State Command, SP Ramhan Nansel, noted that the Commissioner of Police (CP), Shetima Mohammed, who visited the communities, expressed deep sorrow over the incident.
He assured that justice would be served following the attack.
CP Mohammed commiserated with the families of the deceased and the entire community, assuring them of the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that justice is served.
In response, the CP has ordered an intensive manhunt for all perpetrators of the heinous act, directing tactical teams and investigative units to ensure their prompt identification, arrest, and prosecution.
To prevent any further breakdown of law and order, he also directed the immediate reinforcement and sustained deployment of police personnel, in synergy with the Military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to provide adequate security and restore lasting peace in the area.
A stakeholders’ meeting was held during the visit, at which the CP urged residents to remain calm, be law-abiding, and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information to support ongoing investigations.
The Command reassured members of the public that normalcy has been restored to the affected communities, while proactive measures are in place to prevent any recurrence of violence.
The development followed an attack in Plateau State on Sunday night, March 29, when gunmen opened fire at a busy junction in Jos, killing at least 28 people, including students and staff of the University of Jos.
In Kwara State, reports said that five persons – including three soldiers – were killed on Thursday when suspected bandits launched a coordinated assault on the twin communities of Mari and Dina in Patigi Local Government Area.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the villages in large numbers, firing indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes.
“People were running helter-skelter when the bandits started shooting sporadically. Some of the victims were hit by bullets while trying to flee into nearby bushes. It was a terrifying situation because nobody knew where the next gunshot would come from,” one resident recounted.
Local sources confirmed that the assailants abducted several residents, including women and children, marching them into the forest.
“The bandits operated for hours. They took many women and children away with them. As we speak, their whereabouts remain unknown,” another source disclosed.
Security forces responded after receiving distress calls, with troops from the Forward Operational Base in Patigi mobilized to the scene.
However, the bandits reportedly laid an ambush along the route, opening heavy fire on the soldiers. Three military personnel were killed in the ensuing gun battle, and a patrol vehicle was set ablaze.
“The soldiers moved in to rescue the villagers but the bandits had already positioned themselves strategically. It was a deadly ambush. The attackers opened heavy fire on the troops,” a source explained.
Residents expressed fear over the increasing frequency of such incidents, calling on authorities to intensify efforts to protect lives and property.
“This is becoming too much for us. People can no longer sleep with both eyes closed. We are appealing to the government to deploy more security personnel to this area before more lives are lost,” a community member lamented.
As of press time, military authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the casualties. The attack underscores the growing insecurity in Kwara State and the urgent need for stronger measures against banditry in rural communities.