By Yunusa UMAR
No fewer than seven suspected bandits believed to be terrorising communities in Kwara State have been arrested by local vigilantes in the Lade community of Patigi Local Government Area while attempting to purchase fuel allegedly meant for their criminal operations.
Residents who spoke with New Daily Prime confirmed that the suspects were intercepted on Saturday afternoon after arousing suspicion among members of the community.
A local source, who preferred not to be named for security reasons, said the vigilantes acted swiftly after observing suspicious movements at a local filling station.
“About seven bandits were caught by local vigilantes this afternoon in Lade, a community under Patigi Local Government,” the source said. “Three of them were caught as they came to buy fuel, while the other four were arrested in the bush with guns hidden in a sack.”
According to the source, the suspects were also found with an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, which raised further suspicion about their activities and funding.
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“When they were questioned about where they were taking the fuel to, they mentioned Lata village. The other four bandits were seen attempting to cross a river and were pursued by the vigilantes. They tried to dispose of a sack containing rifles into the water before they were caught,” the source added.
Residents are said to still be searching the river for the discarded weapons, while the arrested suspects have reportedly been handed over to soldiers stationed in the area for further investigation.
Communities Under Siege
The arrest comes amid growing insecurity across parts of Kwara North, particularly in the Edu, Patigi, and Ifelodun local government areas, where bandits have continued to carry out deadly attacks, kidnappings, and extortion for ransom.
Just last week, New Daily Prime reported the abduction of a village head in Patigi, sparking renewed calls for stronger security presence in the affected communities.
Local residents say the vigilantes’ success in apprehending the suspects demonstrates the importance of community-led security initiatives in complementing government efforts.
Police Yet to Respond
Efforts to reach the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, were unsuccessful as of press time.
Text messages sent to the police unit’s official line have also gone unanswered.
Residents, however, remain hopeful that the arrest will lead to actionable intelligence capable of curbing the rising wave of terrorism and banditry in Kwara’s northern region.
