Gunmen Strike in Kwara: One Killed, Three Abducted, ₦30 Million Ransom Demanded

Gunmen have killed a charcoal seller and abducted three people, including his two sons and an elderly man, during a midnight attack on Ahun community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. The attackers, who struck last Thursday, reportedly shot the victim, identified as Abdulganiu Sodiq, at close range when he tried to resist them before taking away his sons and a 60-year-old neighbour.

A family member confirmed  that the kidnappers later contacted the family, demanding a ransom of ₦30 million for the release of the victims. “They called again today (Wednesday, October 22), insisting that we must pay quickly or they would kill them. We don’t have that kind of money. We are only struggling farmers,” the source said.

The source explained that he rushed back from Iseyin, Oyo State, where he had been farming, immediately after hearing about the attack. He added that since the incident, residents of Ahun have abandoned their farmlands out of fear of further assaults. “People can no longer go to their farms. We have left our crops to waste because of the fear of being kidnapped,” he lamented.

The rising insecurity, locals say, has crippled farming activities in the area, cutting off the primary source of livelihood for most residents. Community members have repeatedly appealed to the Kwara State government and security agencies to intervene and provide adequate protection.

They also urged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to deploy more security personnel to the region, noting that armed groups continue to operate freely at night without resistance.