Kwara

Residents of Offa community in Kwara State were thrown into panic on Thursday night after explosions rocked parts of the town, destroying several buildings. The explosions reportedly occurred around midnight at two different locations, including the Eid area and the Solid Worth Hotel, causing significant damage to property. Residents who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, citing security concerns, confirmed the incident. One of them said no fewer than five buildings were completely destroyed, though he could not immediately confirm whether there were casualties. “The explosion truly occurred. At least five buildings were completely destroyed. I don’t know if there were casualties,” the resident said. Another resident told reporters that while the explosions caused serious damage, no lives were lost. He said the hotel was badly affected, adding that another explosion occurred near a prayer ground around Ijagbo in Offa. “I was at the scene this morning. The hotel was badly damaged. Another explosion happened around the prayer ground near Ijagbo, but nobody was killed,” he said. As of the time of filing this report, the source and nature of the explosions remained unclear. Read Also: FG Explains International Security Collaboration After Terrorist Airstrikes in North West Confirming the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman of Offa Local Government Area, Abiola Azeez Babatunde, said the council was aware of reports of a suspected ordnance-related incident around the Offa Yidi praying ground. In a statement, the local government said security agencies had secured the affected areas and commenced investigations to determine the cause of the explosions. It also disclosed that the Executive Chairman of Offa Local Government Area, Hon. Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, visited the scene shortly after the incident to assess the level of damage. The council chairman urged residents to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding, advising them to rely on credible and official sources of information to avoid unnecessary panic. The explosions occurred just hours after United States President Donald Trump announced US airstrikes against terrorist targets in Sokoto State. In a statement posted on Truth Social late Thursday, President Trump said the strikes targeted ISIS militants operating in Northwest Nigeria, accusing the group of carrying out deadly attacks against innocent civilians.

Bandits have abducted no fewer than two residents of the Manba community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. The incident occurred late Friday after the gunmen reportedly entered the community through the Rogun axis. Sources in the area said that the attackers arrived around 11pm, firing shots into the air and causing residents to scatter. “The gunmen came through Rogun and headed straight into Manba. They operated freely and took two people away,” a community source said, noting that the incident has heightened fear across neighbouring settlements. As at the time this report was filed, security agencies had yet to release an official statement, and the identities of those kidnapped remained unconfirmed. Read Also: Ganduje Urges Kano Government to Act Swiftly Against Bandit Attacks in Shanono and Tsanyawa Earlier in the week, there was rising tension in Lile community, also in Patigi, after multiple terrorists were sighted moving toward the area on dozens of motorcycles. Local residents said the armed group — believed to be bandits — were observed travelling in a long convoy of more than 40 motorcycles, each carrying two to three riders. A resident explained that the alert came from a nearby village that witnessed the movement directly. “We have just received a call from our neighbouring village informing us that the notorious bandits were sighted moving in large numbers, over 40 motorcycles, carrying two to three persons each,” the source said. According to the account, the armed men passed through another settlement without any confrontation before heading toward Lile. “They passed through the neighbouring village and headed directly towards Lile community. Their current location is unknown at this moment,” the source added. Recall that several communities in Kwara have witnessed deadly bandit attack in recent weeks. (Platinum Post)

Another night of fear in Kwara as bandits stormed Isapa, a community near Eruku in Ekiti LGA, abducting 11 residents, including a pregnant woman, two nursing mothers, and several children. The attack happened around 6pm on Monday — less than 24 hours after worshippers earlier kidnapped from a local church regained their freedom. According to residents, about 20–30 armed men invaded the community, shooting sporadically and leaving bullet holes across homes. An elderly woman was reportedly hit by a stray bullet. Read Also: Gunmen Abduct Four Rice Farmers in Kwara A community source said seven of the victims were taken from one household, listing the abducted persons as: Talatu Kabiru (20), Magaji (6), Kande (5), Hadiza (10), Mariam (6), Saima (5), Habibat, Fatima Yusufu, Sarah Sunday (22, pregnant), Lami Fidelis (23), and Haja Na Allah. Security operatives and vigilantes have launched a search operation to rescue the hostages. Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed the incident, saying he was already heading to Isapa for an on-the-spot assessment. (Platinum Post)

Bandits who abducted about 35 worshippers from the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in the Eruku community, Ekiti LGA of Kwara, have reportedly demanded N100 million ransom for each victim. Recall that on Tuesday evening, bandits attacked the church, killing some of the worshippers and abducting others. A video of the attack, captured during a live stream, showed the worshippers conducting a service when sporadic gunshots were heard from around the church premises. Read Also: Scores Feared Abducted in Overnight Niger Raid According to Punch, multiple family sources and community leaders confirmed on Thursday that the kidnappers have established contact with relatives using the phones of the victims abducted during Tuesday evening’s attack. Josiah Agbabiaka, secretary of the CAC assembly, said some families had already been contacted by the abductors. “It is true that the bandits have started contacting family members using the victims’ phones to demand ransom. From what we were told, they grouped the victims. The first group of 11 people has been asked to pay N100 million each,” Punch quoted Agbabiaka as saying. Also, Olusegun Olukotun, the Olori Eta of Eruku, whose four family members were among those abducted, said the kidnappers were reaching out systematically. “Some people in the community have received calls from the kidnappers demanding N100 million for each person. They said the victims were grouped, and they are calling each group’s relatives,” Olukotun said. Olukotun, who was inside the church with five family members during the attack, said he escaped through a window while others were taken away. Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, has appealed for urgent government intervention to secure the safe release of the victims. The monarch commended the swift deployment of military personnel to the community following the visit of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, governor of Kwara, on Wednesday, but added that more efforts are needed. “Last night, soldiers entered our community minutes after the governor visited. Their presence gave us some assurance that the government is responding. But we are still appealing that efforts should be intensified to rescue our people as quickly as possible,” the monarch said. (Punch)

Gunmen have struck again in Kwara State, abducting four rice farmers in Bokungi Village, Edu Local Government Area. The attack occurred on Wednesday evening while the farmers were working in their fields. The attackers arrived suddenly, surrounding the farmers as they gathered their harvested rice, and forced them into the nearby bush before taking them away to an unknown location. Community members say rising insecurity in Edu LGA has pushed many farming settlements into fear and near abandonment. Read Also: FG Vows to Deploy Full State Power for Release of Abducted Kebbi Schoolgirls This incident follows Tuesday’s deadly attack in Eruku, Ekiti LGA, where terrorists killed three worshippers and abducted several others, including the pastor, at Christ Apostolic Church. (Platinum Post)