Suspected bandits have struck again in Kwara State, abducting four rice farmers in a fresh wave of violence that has heightened fear across rural communities in the state.
The latest attack, which occurred on Wednesday evening in Bokungi Village, Edu Local Government Area, came less than 24 hours after gunmen invaded a church in Eruku, Ekiti LGA, killing two worshippers and abducting several others.
According to credible community sources, the victims were seized while working on their rice farms amid the peak of the harvest season. Witnesses reported that the attackers stormed the farmlands unexpectedly, emerging from the surrounding bush and overwhelming the farmers before they could flee.
“The gunmen arrived suddenly and surrounded the farmers who were gathering their rice,” a resident who requested anonymity due to safety concerns disclosed. “They operated freely for several minutes. There was no resistance, and they marched the four farmers into the nearby bush before taking them away toward an unknown location.”
The incident has amplified concerns about the escalating insecurity in Edu LGA, where several farming settlements have reportedly become deserted. Many farmers, fearing for their lives, have abandoned their fields despite the critical harvest period, threatening food production and local livelihoods.
Community members lamented that consistent attacks by armed groups have crippled agricultural activities, with recurring kidnappings, raids, and extortion forcing rural dwellers into perpetual fear.
“People are scared. You can’t go to your farm with confidence anymore,” another villager said. “Harvest season used to be a time of hard work and joy, but now it is a period of anxiety.”
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Kwara State Police Command nor the state government had issued an official statement regarding the abduction or measures being taken to rescue the victims.
