At least 20 people were killed on Sunday morning when bandits attacked Oke-Ode community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Among the dead were 15 civilians, including the community’s traditional head (Baale), and five forest guards who died while confronting the attackers.
Eyewitnesses said the armed men stormed the agrarian town at dawn, shooting sporadically and forcing residents to flee.
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Several villagers were abducted, and homes and farmlands were abandoned as families sought safety in neighbouring towns.
The Baale of Oke-Ode was confirmed among the victims, while community volunteers and local hunters were overwhelmed before security operatives intervened.
Kwara State governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary Rafiu Ajakaye, described the killings as “a tragedy that demands urgent national attention.”
He said the state requires more military deployments to roll back criminal activities in Kwara South and Kwara North, adding that “no part of Kwara should be left at the mercy of criminal gangs.”
“My heartfelt condolences go to the families. No word can adequately capture the depth of my sadness and nothing can compensate the bereaved families over these incidents, in spite of our efforts and the investments in enlisting and training the forest guards to bolster the conventional forces,” the governor said.
He praised the fallen guards and hunters for their “spirited resistance,” noting that they neutralised some of the attackers before being killed.
The governor urged residents to remain calm and avoid reprisals, while commending the sacrifices of security forces.
Meanwhile, the Army Headquarters has directed the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, in Ibadan to relocate to Kwara to coordinate and strengthen the military response.
Security agencies have yet to issue a final casualty figure, but police and community leaders confirmed ongoing investigations and rescue operations.
The attack has deepened concerns over rising insecurity in north-central Nigeria, where rural communities remain vulnerable to armed groups.
