Presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, has expressed deep sorrow over the recent attack on Oke-Ode community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, where armed bandits killed no fewer than 12 people, including vigilante members and the Baale of Ogbayo.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Obi described the incident as a “mindless act of violence” that had once again thrown the nation into mourning. He emphasised the urgent need to declare a national security emergency, insisting that no Nigerian should live in fear in their own home.
“We cannot continue to normalise tragedy. My heart goes out to the governor and the people of Kwara State. I reassure you that you are not alone,” Obi said, while offering condolences to the bereaved families and praying for the repose of the victims.
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying its operatives and personnel of the National Forest Security Service responded swiftly to distress calls. However, spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi said 12 vigilante members were already found dead on arrival. Four injured victims were taken to hospital, while the bodies of the deceased were evacuated.
The attack has sparked panic in Oke-Ode, with residents fleeing the community en masse over fears of further assaults. A video circulating in Ilorin, the state capital, showed residents boarding taxi cabs loaded with their belongings in a mass movement out of the town.
Some residents alleged that the assault came just a day after security agencies reportedly withdrew guns from local vigilantes. They appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to urgently intervene and restore peace.
“We are in serious tension and pains, and no one can sleep with two eyes closed in Oke-Ode community,” one resident said. “Before they kill all of us again, it is better to move out of the town for a while to safer places in the state.”
The community has continued to call for stronger security presence to halt further attacks and ensure residents can safely return to their homes.
