Tragedy struck Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State on Sunday as armed bandits launched fresh attacks, killing a pastor and kidnapping the village head of Rani, plunging the communities into fear and mourning.
The victims include Rev. James Audu Issa, a cleric with the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) in Ekati village, who was brutally murdered by his abductors despite his family paying a ₦5 million ransom for his release.
Eyewitnesses said Issa had been kidnapped on August 28, and the bandits initially demanded ₦100 million. After negotiations, the ransom was reduced to ₦5 million, which the family managed to pay. However, after collecting the money, the criminals allegedly demanded another ₦45 million, and later killed the pastor before further talks could resume.
A community leader described the incident as a “disturbing escalation” of banditry in Kwara North, lamenting that residents now live in constant fear due to the unrelenting wave of kidnappings, killings, and extortion in rural areas.
In a separate attack on Rani village on Sunday evening, bandits stormed the community while residents were preparing for Maghrib prayers, shooting sporadically and abducting two people, including the village head. Reports indicate that at least one person was killed during the invasion.
“The security situation here in Rani remains tense. We can no longer move freely or go to the farm because we are not sure of returning alive,” a resident lamented, appealing to both the state and federal governments to deploy more security personnel to restore peace in the area.
A senior officer from the Patigi Divisional Police Office confirmed the incident, adding that the matter has been reported to the Kwara State Police Command for further action and rescue operations.
Comments