Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Suspected bandits launched a deadly attack on Lata Nna community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State on Sunday morning, August 2, 2026, killing a woman, abducting another resident, and forcing terrified villagers to flee into nearby bushes as the assailants fired indiscriminately. Multiple residents who spoke to SaharaReporters confirmed that the attack was still ongoing at the time of filing their reports, with the heavily armed gunmen moving through the community and leaving several others feared dead. The assault comes barely a day after another resident, identified as Mohammed Abubakar Ndakpada Lata, was abducted by suspected bandits while returning from his farm, with his captors reportedly demanding ₦100 million ransom for his release.
Residents decried the complete absence of security personnel, accusing the authorities of failing to protect the community despite repeated appeals over persistent security threats in the area. One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told SaharaReporters: "Lata Nna is currently under attack right now by bandits. I was in the town when I suddenly heard gunshots. I was wondering what was happening because there is no security presence in our village." The resident added that the gunshots were not from locally made guns, leading residents to believe the attackers came with sophisticated weapons. The vigilantes responded, but before they could reach the scene, they confirmed that one woman had already been killed.
The deceased was identified as a Nupe woman who had gone behind the village to fetch firewood when she was attacked. "Some people were killed. The victims were at the back of the village. They were just killed there," the source said. "As I'm speaking with you, I have not yet confirmed the total number of people killed. However, I can confirm that one Nupe woman was killed." Residents are now searching the area to determine if there are more victims, though the exact number of casualties has yet to be established. The abducted resident was taken away by the gunmen, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
The latest assault is part of a disturbing pattern of violence that has turned life in the community into a nightmare, with kidnappings and killings becoming almost a daily occurrence. "Just the day before yesterday, my uncle was kidnapped while returning from his farm. The farm is less than two kilometres from the village. Yesterday, the kidnappers called and demanded a ransom of ₦100 million. Yes, he is still in their custody," one resident said. "These attacks happen almost every day. We have repeatedly appealed to the government to establish a military camp in our community, but they keep telling us the process is ongoing. Meanwhile, people are being killed and kidnapped every day. I don't know what is going on."
The attack on Lata Nna is the latest in a series of bandit incursions that have plagued Kwara State, particularly the Patigi and Kaiama local government areas, where armed groups have exploited the vast forests and porous borders to launch attacks on farming communities. In February 2026, bandits attacked Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama LGA, killing over 260 people and abducting 176 residents, many of whom remain in captivity. The inability of security forces to prevent these recurring attacks has left communities feeling abandoned and vulnerable, with residents living in constant fear.
The Kwara State Government and security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the Sunday morning attack, and efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer for the state were unsuccessful as of the time of this report. Residents, however, have made it clear that they are running out of patience. "We are tired of living in fear. Every day, we hear gunshots. Every day, people are taken away. The government must act now before our community is completely destroyed," one resident said. The fate of the abducted resident and the woman killed in the attack remain a source of anguish for the community, as families mourn their losses and pray for the safe return of their loved ones.
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