Bandits Kill 3 and Abduct 15 Worshippers in Kwara Community

Niger to deploy drones to fight bandits, terrorists in the forests

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin and Laleye Dipo in Minna

About ten suspected bandits reportedly killed three people and abducted 15 others during an attack on worshippers at Ori‑Oke Ajaiye, on the outskirts of Ikiran village in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.

THISDAY checks revealed that the attack occurred on Saturday while the worshippers were observing a night vigil at about 20:30 p.m.

It was further learned that the incident caused many worshippers to flee for safety after the bandits invaded the praying ground.

Confirming the incident to reporters in Ilorin yesterday, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Adekimi Ojo, stated: “The incident was reported on 24th May, 2026, by Pastor Adebayo Abiodun of Ijo Ajaiye Ati Igbala, Ekerin Village, Ekiti LGA Kwara State.”

Ojo added that while conducting a night vigil with his congregation at Ori‑Oke Ijaye via Ekerin village on 23rd May, 2026, at about 20:30 hrs, armed hoodlums invaded the prayer ground, firing sporadically, killing three persons and abducting fifteen others to an unknown destination.

He said: “Upon receipt of the distress report, the Divisional Police Officer, Ekiti Division, immediately mobilised operatives to the scene.”

“A comprehensive tactical and intelligence‑driven operation involving the Police Drone Team, PMF personnel, intelligence units and other operational assets for a coordinated rescue mission has been directed.”

The Commissioner described the attack as barbaric, callous and unacceptable, assuring the families of the deceased, the injured and the abducted victims that the command was fully committed to ensuring the rescue of all abductees and the apprehension of the perpetrators behind the heinous act.

The command assured residents of Ekiti LGA and the entire state that vigorous efforts are ongoing, including bush combing, intelligence gathering and coordinated security operations, to track down the assailants and bring them to justice.

He further urged the public to remain calm, vigilant and supportive by providing credible and timely information that could assist ongoing operations.

Meanwhile, Niger State Governor Alhaji Mohammed Umaru Bago has approved the deployment of drones to combat terrorists and bandits hibernating in forests around the state.

The Commissioner for Investments, Alhaji Aminu Sulaiman Takuma, disclosed this while speaking to reporters in Minna, saying the step is to ensure the forests are sanitised to encourage potential foreign and local investors to invest in the state.

Niger State is surrounded, among others, by Kainji, Kagara and Shiroro forests from which terrorists and bandits have been wreaking havoc on the people of the state and also scaring away investors.

However, Takuma said: “All these will soon be over as the state will be made conducive for investors after the terrorists have been flushed out.”

“There will be no more hiding place for bandits and terrorists anywhere in the state.”

He disclosed that a gold mining and processing factory will be established in the state, adding that the government has already secured the commitment of an Australian firm to fund the project but did not disclose where the factory will be located or its cost.

To boost the industrial development of the state, the commissioner said the government is also deliberately focusing on the provision of infrastructure in all parts of the state, saying this would ease the movement of goods and services.

He disclosed that the government is currently engaging investors for both aeronautical and non‑aeronautical services at the Ahmed Bola Tinubu International Airport in Minna, adding that the state government had also taken over the management of the Baro ports.

However, he noted that the issue of dredging the port has now been put aside.

Takuma explained that ships from Port Harcourt and Warri will now offload their goods at Baro, from where they would be transported across the states in the northern part of the country.

The commissioner disclosed that after a study tour of Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya the state government had decided to also establish a seed development company in the three senatorial zones to protect farmers’ harvests thereby improving their incomes.

Takuma said Niger State possesses enormous economic potential across agriculture, mining, transportation and industrial sectors and therefore urged investors to take advantage of these potentials to expand their businesses.