KEY POINTS

• Hunters and vigilantes repelled four suspected bandits who attacked Olokin community in Kwara.
• One attacker was reportedly killed and his gun recovered, while three others fled.
• No resident was reportedly killed or abducted, as vigilantes continued pursuing the fleeing suspects.

Hunters and local vigilantes have repelled an attack by suspected bandits in Olokin community, near Iwo Odo-Ore in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State, preventing the attackers from abducting or killing residents.

The incident reportedly occurred when four armed men stormed the rural community and began attacking residents, allegedly in an attempt to abduct people.

According to sources familiar with the incident, the attackers encountered strong resistance from local hunters and vigilantes who quickly mobilised after the invasion.

The community security operatives reportedly engaged the suspected bandits, forcing them to retreat. During the confrontation, one of the attackers was reportedly killed, while his firearm was recovered by the vigilantes.

A source said the attackers had entered the community expecting little resistance but were forced to abandon their plans after the local security operatives confronted them.

The source said, “They came to the community but unfortunately for them, they were repelled by our local vigilantes. They neutralised one of them with his gun.”

Three Bandits Flee As Pursuit Continues

Following the confrontation, the remaining three suspects reportedly fled from Olokin and headed towards neighbouring communities.

The vigilantes continued their pursuit in the direction of Ora, Agbeku and Odo-Eku, while hunters and other local security operatives in the surrounding areas reportedly joined the operation in an effort to prevent the suspects from regrouping.

“They have chased the three bandits towards Ora, Agbeku and Odo-Eku. All the hunters and vigilantes in the axis have joined hands together,” the source said.

The coordinated response reportedly heightened security activity across the communities as local operatives searched for the fleeing suspects.

Despite the armed invasion, the attackers reportedly failed to achieve their alleged objective of kidnapping residents.

The source said no resident was abducted or killed during the incident, adding that the attackers eventually abandoned the community after coming under sustained pressure from the hunters and vigilantes.

“They were unable to kidnap anyone, and they were also unable to kill anyone. They have run away,” the source said.

The reported development is significant for residents of the area, where fears over attacks and abductions have increased in recent months.