One Dead, Several Injured as Terrorists Storm Wande Community in Kwara South, Abduct Resident

Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

The quiet farming community of Wande in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State was thrown into chaos on Wednesday night when suspected terrorists invaded the area, killing one resident, abducting another, and leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries in what residents have described as the latest in a series of coordinated attacks targeting rural communities in Kwara South. The attackers, who struck under the cover of darkness, opened fire indiscriminately on residents, sending panic through the community before fleeing with their abducted victim, according to a source familiar with the incident who spoke to SaharaReporters. The attack has further heightened fears among residents of Kwara South, who say bandit activities have continued to spread across the region despite ongoing security operations.

A source who witnessed the ordeal recounted the brutality of the assault, revealing that he was physically attacked and suffered a serious head injury after being struck with the butt of a gun. "They hit me on the head with the butt of their gun. Blood has been coming out from my head. The person they shot; we are taking him to the hospital in Igbaja. We are on our way," the source said, describing the desperate scramble to get the wounded to medical facilities. The source confirmed that one person was killed during the attack, another was kidnapped, while several residents sustained injuries. The attack has left the community in a state of shock, with many residents now considering fleeing their homes to escape the escalating violence.

Security sources have offered a disturbing explanation for the attack, revealing that the terrorists who struck Wande were believed to be members of a group that had earlier been engaged by security operatives in the neighbouring Yaru town. According to a top security source, security forces had mounted an operation against the terrorists on Wednesday morning in Yaru, forcing them to retreat in the direction of Wande, where they later carried out the deadly assault. "It was obvious because they pushed them yesterday morning at Yaru again. They ran towards that end," the security source said. The revelation has raised troubling questions about the effectiveness of military tactics in the region, suggesting that the displacement of terrorist groups from one location simply pushes them to strike elsewhere, often with devastating consequences.

The attack on Wande is the latest in a wave of violence that has turned Kwara South into a hotspot for banditry and terrorism. Residents say several rural communities have reportedly been deserted as people flee persistent attacks by armed groups. "Kwara South has become a hotspot for bandits, while many communities have been deserted," a source added, painting a grim picture of a region under siege. The attack comes just weeks after suspected bandits invaded Yaru community in the same local government area in a failed attempt to abduct the traditional ruler, the Oniyaru of Yaru, leaving two residents injured. That attack, which occurred on July 3, was repelled by a combined team of local hunters, vigilantes and military personnel who engaged the assailants in a gun battle, forcing them to flee without capturing the monarch. However, the terrorists appear to have regrouped and struck again with deadly effect.

The worsening security situation in Kwara South has drawn attention to the growing threat of terrorism in the state, which had previously been considered relatively safe compared to other parts of the North-Central and North-West regions. In November 2025, terrorists attacked the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing three worshippers and abducting 38 others, including a pastor. In February 2026, a devastating attack on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area left over 170 people dead, prompting President Bola Tinubu to order the immediate deployment of an army battalion to the area. Despite these interventions, attacks have continued, with communities in Ifelodun, Ekiti, and Isin local government areas bearing the brunt of the violence.

The attack on Wande also comes amid a broader debate over security strategy in Kwara State. The Iru Ẹ̀kún Security Network, a security outfit linked to Yoruba nation agitator Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of preventing the group from visiting the state to assist in tackling insecurity. The security network alleged that the governor objected to the planned visit despite growing insecurity and persistent attacks by suspected armed herdsmen and terrorists in parts of Kwara South. The allegation, contained in a voice note obtained by SaharaReporters, claimed that the governor opposed the visit because "he's a Fulani man." The network subsequently suspended the planned visit to avoid exposing its members in the state to possible risks.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kwara State Government and the state police command had not issued an official statement on the attack. Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer for Kwara State Command for comment were unsuccessful. The absence of an official response has only deepened the anxiety among residents, who are demanding answers and action from the government. The attack on Wande underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive security strategy that addresses the root causes of banditry and terrorism in Kwara State and protects vulnerable rural communities from further attacks. For now, the people of Wande and surrounding communities are left to mourn their dead, tend to their wounded, and hope that the government will finally take decisive action to end the cycle of violence that has gripped their region.

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