- Bandits sack Kwara communities, over 3,000 residents flee
Another fatal terrorist attack has claimed seven lives in Southern Kaduna, despite a peace pact between the Kaduna State government and bandit leaders operating in the state and other parts of northern Nigeria.
SaharaReporters can exclusively report that heavily armed attackers struck late Sunday night into the early hours of Monday, killing seven people, mostly minors.
Sources told SaharaReporters that several adults managed to escape.
Mr. Iliya Tata, a community leader and Public Relations Officer 1 of the Irigwe Development Association, confirmed the incident and shared graphic images with SaharaReporters’ New York office.
“There was an attack on Sunday night, August 24, by Fulani marauders at a community known as Angwan Rimi in Kamaru Ward of Kauru LGA (local government area) of Kaduna State,” he stated.
“Seven persons have been killed, while eight others sustained gunshot injuries and machete cuts.”
The leadership of the Irigwe Development Association, Kamaru branch, condemned the heinous attack and urged all communities to protect themselves.
They also called on security agencies to take urgent action and ensure the safety of the affected areas.
“Reports indicate the following persons were murdered in cold blood, and those who were injured. Jacob Zaka, 12; Magret Mathias, 5; Delight Paul, 1; Sati Markus, 9; Confidence Yakubu, 15; Veronica Paul, 25; Matthew Sunday, 14; and Felicia Francis 15,” the organisation said.
“We use this medium to call on the Federal Government, Kaduna State governments and Kauru Local government to intervene by making sure lives of the people and our communities are well protected.
“Once again, we appeal to all members of the public to remain calm during this mourning period, trusting that the security will do the needful to restore the confidence of the people. May God Almighty condole us on this unfortunate incident.”
He provided the names of eight locals who were critically injured and are fighting for their lives: Mathew Sunday, 14; Jethro Istifanus, 7; Jackson Istifanus, 5; Emmanuel Morris, 14; Agatha Sylvester, 9; Joy Markus, 9; Devine Paul, 1; and Mary Ishaya, 12.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State government, in collaboration with federal agencies, launched what it called the “Kaduna Model”—a holistic peace initiative aimed at addressing both the symptoms and root causes of insecurity.
The pact involved direct engagement with notorious bandit leaders operating in areas like Birnin Gwari and Giwa. These were not petty criminals; they were warlords like Yellow Jambros and Dogo Gide, men accused of mass killings, kidnappings, and extortion across Kaduna and neighboring states.
Yet, under the new peace deal, many of them laid down their arms. Around 200 fighters reportedly surrendered, some even enrolling in government-run rehabilitation programs.
The initiative included promises of disarmament, reintegration, and rural development. Roads once feared, like the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highway, reopened, and villagers began returning to their homes. The government touted these as signs of progress, a fragile hope in a region long defined by despair.
Still, the pact was not without controversy. Critics, including Christian leaders and other stakeholders, voiced concern over the lack of transparency and the exclusion of victims from the peace process.
The Northwest Governors Forum had previously agreed to reject negotiations with criminals, making Kaduna’s unilateral move a bold departure.
Governor Uba Sani defended the approach as a “carrot-and-stick” strategy, insisting that peace must be pursued from a position of strength.
In the meantime, not less than 3,000 residents of 15 communities in Babanla town in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, at the weekend, reportedly fled the communities over the reported incessant attacks by suspected kidnappers and bandits.
In another development, Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed that one Irmiya Yohanna, 40, of Kaduna-Bogoro in Bogoro Local Government Area of the state, has been gruesomely killed.
In Kwara, already, the federal government has deployed five war fighter jets, while police have also deployed joint security personnel to the town to protect life and property.
THISDAY checks investi-gations revealed that among the affected communities deserted by the residents are Eka, Upper Eka, Lower Eka, Kudagbari, Gbanmu, Oloruntele, Baba Sango, Ibudo Idowu, Ibudo Olosun, Ayetoro, and Apata Olosun.
It was gathered that the suspected kidnappers and bandits have been attacking these communities forthe the last two months.
Sources close to the Babanla town told journalists over the weekend that the incident has forced many of the affected residents to relocate to safer areas, which hitherto has affected the socio-economic growth of the areas.
Sources said that the latest incident was last Friday, when over 200 bandits invaded the main town of Babanla and killed about five persons, including a police man, and also carted away property.
Speaking with journalists at the weekend on the incident, the traditional ruler of Babanla town, His Royal Highness, Oba Alliu Alabi Yusuf Adegboyega, said: “The bandits and kidnappers have been terrorising us here in Babanla communities for the past two months now.
“And the situation was so serious that several residents of 15 communities that surrounded Babanla town have deserted the communities for fear of being attacked by the bandits.”
He said that,he last attack happened ast Friday ,where over 200 bandits on motorbikes invaded the main town of Babanla and attacked the police station and shops of the residents of the town.
During the attack, five people were killed, including a policeman man and also burnt the police station at Babanla.”
Oba Adegboyega, who lauded the quick response from he state government and security agencies in the state for curbing the attack, said that the response of the affected stakeholders has restored normalcy to the town.
He also said that the deployment of soldiers, vigilantes, policemen, and war-fighting jets has gone a long way to restore peace to the town.
Adegboyega, however, called for the establishment of military barracks in the area to bring a permanent solution to the influx of suspected kidnappers and bandits to the town and other adjoining towns and villages.
Meanwhile, the state Police Command at the weekend has reinforced more security agents in Babanla town.
The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Adekimi Ojo, stated this in Ilorin in a statement after a joint on-site assessment with the state Director of State Security Service(DSS) of the town.
The statement, which was signed by the state Police Command Public Relations Officer(PPRO), Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said: “On August 8, 2025, armed criminals in their hundreds, riding on motorcycles, invaded Babanla community, attacked the Divisional Police headquarters, and raided the market.
“The assailants fired sporadically, killing five people, including a police officer, Adejumo Wasiu. A swift and coordinated response by police operatives, Nigerian Army personnel, vigilantes, and local hunters repelled the attack, restored order, and initiated a full-scale manhunt for the perpetrators.
“Today, the state Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, accompanied by the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Kwara State Command, paid an on-the-spot assessment visit to Babanla to evaluate the security situation.
“They met with His Royal Highness, Oba Yusuf Aliyu Alabi Arojojoye II, the traditional ruler of Babanla. They held high-level discussions aimed at consolidating peace and strengthening inter-agency and community-security collaboration.
“The joint security delegation toured key locations in the community, including the market, the Divisional Police headquarters, and surrounding areas to ensure that stability has been fully restored.
The Commissioner of Police ordered sustained armed patrols, continuous intelligence gathering, and the deployment of specialised tracking teams.
“At the same time, the DSS pledged continuous intelligence support to apprehend all those involved in the attack.
“The Command reiterates its unwavering commitment, in synergy with sister security agencies, to safeguarding lives and property in all parts of Kwara State. Residents are urged to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative with security agencies by providing credible information,” he stated.
These killings show that peace deals with bandits are nothing but temporary illusions—without firm security action, communities will remain unsafe.