Armed terrorists raided a Kwara community in a midnight attack, allegedly abducting four local residents and injuring a Nigerian Army officer and a community vigilante, witnesses told SaharaReporters on Tuesday, February 13, 2026.
The assailants struck with little warning, underscoring a worsening security crisis in parts of the state that have seen repeated violent incursions. Witnesses said the gunmen stormed the community at night, opening fire and seizing four villagers before fleeing into surrounding forests. One resident who spoke on condition of anonymity described the attack as “terrorising and sudden,” noting that “the whole community is in shock” as families search for missing loved ones. The injured army officer and the vigilante were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, where sources said they were being stabilised.
The identities of the abducted individuals have not been officially released, and police authorities in Kwara State have yet to issue a formal statement on the incident. However, the attack comes amid a broader pattern of kidnapping and banditry in Kwara, where rural communities have increasingly become targets for criminal networks.
Local security analysts warn that dense forests and poor road networks make many villages vulnerable to such raids. Security experts say the surge in such violent raids highlights ongoing challenges in curbing terrorism and banditry across the region.
Residents are calling on state and federal security forces to escalate patrols and improve protective measures to prevent further losses of life and abductions.