Wave Of Attacks Deepens As APC Chairman’s Family Abducted In Kwara

Armed men suspected to be bandits have abducted the wife and daughter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Muhammad Swasun.

The incident occurred on Sunday night in Sakpefu community when the attackers, in large numbers, reportedly invaded the area around 11:00 p.m., shooting sporadically to disperse residents before heading to the chairman’s residence.

The victims, identified as Haja Fatima and her daughter, Amina, were taken away after the assailants forcefully gained access to the family compound. Witnesses said the attack threw the community into panic as residents fled into the bush for safety.

One of the residents, who pleaded anonymity, said:

“The gunmen came in large numbers, firing into the air. People ran for their lives. They went straight to the chairman’s house and abducted his wife and daughter. No one knows their whereabouts as of now.”

Local vigilante groups were said to have mobilised to track the attackers, though their efforts had yet to yield results at press time.

The police command in Kwara has not issued an official statement on the abduction. However, community leaders have urged the state government and security agencies to act swiftly to rescue the victims and forestall further incidents.

Kidnapping and banditry have remained a growing menace in parts of Kwara. Only on Saturday, gunmen reportedly launched an attack on Shagbe community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, killing some residents and abducting others. The attackers were said to have stormed the palace of the Onishagbe with the intention of seizing the monarch, a plan that was unsuccessful.

Residents said the gunmen operated unhindered for hours despite distress calls to security agencies. They appealed for urgent security reinforcement across the affected areas to restore public confidence and prevent further bloodshed.