At least five residents and three soldiers have been killed following a deadly attack by suspected bandits in parts of Kwara State.
The incident occurred in the Mari and Dina communities in Patigi Local Government Area, where heavily armed assailants reportedly invaded the villages, opening fire indiscriminately and causing panic among residents.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the attackers stormed the communities in large numbers, forcing many villagers to flee into nearby bushes in a desperate attempt to escape the violence. Several others sustained injuries during the assault.
In addition to the killings, the gunmen abducted an unspecified number of women and children, taking them into the surrounding forest, with their whereabouts still unknown at the time of reporting.
Sources said the attack lasted for an extended period, leaving destruction and fear in its wake as security operatives continue efforts to restore calm and track down the perpetrators.
The latest incident underscores growing security concerns in parts of Kwara State, where communities have faced repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months
