Bandits Kill Pastor, Village Head and Kidnap Two Others in Fresh Kwara Attacks

Armed bandits have launched fresh attacks in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing a pastor and a village head while abducting two others.

The assailants reportedly invaded Rani village on Sunday evening, shooting sporadically as residents were preparing for the Maghrib prayer. They killed two people, including the village head, and kidnapped two others. Panic has since gripped the community, as the attackers have yet to contact the victims’ families for ransom.

In a related incident, a pastor with the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA), Reverend James Audu Issa of Ekati village, was murdered after being abducted by bandits. The cleric, who was kidnapped on August 28, had his family negotiate a ₦5 million ransom after the abductors initially demanded ₦100 million. However, the criminals reportedly killed him over the weekend after demanding an additional ₦45 million.

Community members described the pastor’s death and the Rani village attack as a disturbing escalation of insecurity in Kwara North. A local leader, who preferred not to be named, lamented that residents now live in constant fear, unable to farm or conduct business. He appealed to both state and federal authorities to deploy more troops to restore peace to the area.

A senior police officer from the Patigi Divisional Police Office confirmed the incidents, stating that the command had been notified and efforts were underway to rescue the abducted victims.