By Deborah Nnamdi
Suspected bandits have abducted four rice farmers in Bokungi Village, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, in a fresh attack that has heightened fears across the region.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening while the victims were working on their farms at the peak of the harvest season. It came less than 24 hours after gunmen attacked a church in Eruku, Ekiti LGA, where two worshippers were killed and several others abducted.
A community source in Bokungi said the attackers stormed the rice fields unexpectedly, surrounding the farmers as they gathered their harvest.
“It has been confirmed that bandits struck again at Bokungi under the Lafiagi Emirate. Four people were abducted. Information is still emerging,” the source said.
Residents reported that the gunmen operated freely for several minutes without any form of resistance, forcing the farmers into the nearby bush before taking them away to an unknown location.
Community members also expressed concern over the rising wave of insecurity in Edu LGA, noting that many farming settlements had been abandoned as farmers increasingly fear attacks during the harvest period, when they are most exposed on their fields.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kwara State Police Command and the state government had not issued an official statement on the incident.
