In a series of violent attacks across Nigeria, gunmen and terrorists have left a trail of devastation, killing at least 33 people and displacing numerous others in Ondo and Kebbi states.
In Ondo State, suspected bandits attacked four communities in Akure North Local Government Area (LGA) on Sunday, killing at least 20 people. The affected communities—Aba Alajido, Aba Sunday, Aba Pastor, and Ademekun—were targeted in a brutal assault that began last week and escalated on Friday night. A resident, identified as Sunday, recounted the horror, stating that the attackers opened fire indiscriminately while residents were asleep, forcing many to flee into the bush for safety.
"So many ran into the bush, but some unlucky ones were killed in the villages," he said.
Security personnel later recovered several bodies, with many residents still missing and feared dead. Funmilayo Odunlami, the Ondo State police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and stated that investigations are ongoing, with efforts to restore normalcy and apprehend the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, in Kebbi State, the Lakurawa terrorist group launched a deadly reprisal attack in Birnin Dede village, Arewa LGA, killing 13 people and burning eight nearby villages. The attack was reportedly in retaliation for the killing of their leader, Maigemu, by combined military forces supported by Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris. A villager, Malam Umar, explained that the terrorists spared only one village, which was under military protection.
"We seek protection from Allah against this dreaded group," he said. The Kebbi State Police Command could not be reached for comment at the time of reporting.
These attacks highlight the escalating security challenges in Nigeria, with communities increasingly vulnerable to violence from bandits and terrorist groups.