A Tragic Attack and the Voices of the Survivors
In the wake of a devastating bandit attack on Oke-Ode in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, which claimed the lives of several residents, Mrs Gbemisola Muhammed, known as Yéyé Oge, shares her harrowing experience. She recounts how her husband and other relatives were killed and calls for urgent government action.
The Day of the Attack
In the weeks leading up to the tragedy, there were rumors that bandits were planning an attack on their community. Mrs Muhammed reported the threat to security agencies, but no action was taken. As a hunter, she was aware of the danger.
On Saturday, the day before the attack, her husband warned her not to travel at night, sensing something terrible might happen. She was in Sagamu, Ogun State, buying goods for her business, and he insisted she stay there until the next morning. He was attending a hunters’ meeting on Sunday but was off duty and therefore unarmed.
On Sunday morning, as she approached Agunjin town, near Oke-Ode, she received a call that the bandits had attacked the community. Rushing there, she encountered an unimaginable horror: her husband, a prince of Agunjin, had been killed, along with his younger brother and brother-in-law.
Details of the Attack and Victims
Mrs Muhammed was told that the bandits tried to kidnap her husband’s younger sister, whose husband was also killed, but the attempt failed. They asked about her mother-in-law, who had just returned from Hajj. In the end, they spared her life but took her bag and phones. She has since been moved to Lagos to recover.
Many others were not as fortunate. Taiye from Dabu village, his wife, and their two-month-old baby were kidnapped directly from the hospital. A doctor, known as Baba Gold, along with his wife and their two children, were also abducted. The attackers killed a Bororo man and a Hausa trader in Alade before moving into Oke-Ode.
Oluode Ologomo, whose wife had just given birth, was also killed. The attackers even stripped him of his charms, as bullets could not penetrate him. In total, 22 people lost their lives in that single attack, while many more were taken hostage.
Accusations Against Security Agencies
Mrs Muhammed accused security agencies of stripping vigilantes of weapons. A day before the attack, an officer supervising the hunters reportedly came from Abuja and collected the vigilantes’ guns, saying they needed repairs. This left the hunters and vigilantes, the community’s only line of defence, completely unarmed against the heavily armed bandits. It was this that gave the attackers the upper hand.
Helicopters and External Fighters
Mrs Muhammed mentioned helicopters and external fighters’ involvement in the security challenges faced by the community. Around May, a young man escaped from the forest and came into the community. He told them that bandits had been brought from Katsina to Kwara State by helicopter at night and were also supplied with ammunition. When he realized their mission involved kidnapping and banditry, he ran away. He warned them to prepare, as more fighters and weapons were being deployed.
They also often saw helicopters flying over the forests at night. It is clear, therefore, that these attackers are not merely local criminals; they are being externally aided and supplied.
Targeted Attacks
Mrs Muhammed suspects the bandits knew her family members before the attack. They specifically asked her sister-in-law about her mother-in-law, who had just returned from Hajj. Before she left the town, she even overheard people saying they were coming for her because she is a hunter and had boasted that Oke-Ode could not be attacked. This makes her believe they deliberately targeted her and her family.
The Attack on the Community
The bandits did not break into her house or any other house in the community. They went straight to the security post where the hunters were stationed and opened fire. After that, they moved to the spot on the road where her husband, his brother, and his brother-in-law were and killed them.
History of Attacks
This was the first time Oke-Ode had been attacked. Historically, Oke-Ode has been the safest community in this area since the recent wave of insecurity began around March this year. Although they had been receiving reports for several weeks that bandits were planning an attack, the vigilantes and hunters were well-prepared. Unfortunately, the bandits struck when they were least expected.
Kidnappings for ransom, however, have been occurring in Ifelodun Local Government Area since early this year. During some raids, the bandits also steal farm produce and sometimes kill farmers in the bush.
Security Arrangements
Apart from the policemen stationed in the town, there are no additional security personnel permanently in place. When Babanla community was attacked, soldiers were deployed to Oke-Ode as many people fleeing surrounding villages sought refuge there. However, about three weeks ago, the military was relocated to another area, leaving the community largely without protection.
Community Leaders’ Response
Oke-Ode currently does not have a king. The previous king passed away about three years ago, and since then, a dispute between the kingmakers and the princes has left the matter unresolved in court. Meanwhile, the community development association has repeatedly raised concerns about the rising insecurity in the area.
Police Response
The police are now aware of the attacks. In fact, the bodies were taken to the police station near where the attack occurred. We also learned that the officers were afraid, as the bandits had threatened to attack the station as well.
Why Residents Left
Most residents appear to have deserted the area. People are terrified of the bandits. We heard that they vowed to return, and the few police officers stationed here cannot match the bandits’ firepower or numbers. These attackers often strike in hundreds, leaving residents with no choice but to flee, even though many have nowhere else to go.
Government Visits
The Ifelodun Local Government Area Chairman, Mr Femi Yusuf, visited Mrs Muhammed after the incident. He is a good man. On the day of the attack, she called him, and he alerted the security agencies, although they only arrived after the bandits had left.
She learned that the governor visited Oke-Ode on Thursday. She thinks the visit is a welcome development, but we need results: those bandits must be wiped out and made to pay for their crimes. She hopes the governor’s visit will bring lasting solutions to this insecurity. She needs to return to her ancestral home.
Care for the Injured
Mrs Muhammed is not entirely sure about the injured, as everything was chaotic, but that day the bodies were taken to the General Hospital in Share, the headquarters of the Local Government Area.
Coping with Loss
Having lost everything to the incident, Mrs Muhammed intends to cope with five children and two grandchildren. Only God can help her. She had a thriving business in Agunjin, where she also built her house, but she cannot go back there. She left the town with nothing but the clothes she is wearing. She hopes the government and Nigerians will come to their aid, because without such support, there is no hope for them.
Personal Impact
The tragedy has affected her personally. Earlier this year, she lost all her farming investments to bandits. Now, the little she had, almost N2 million for her business, is gone. Her car was destroyed in the attack. Her husband, who was her backbone, was killed along with his relatives. When she heard the bandits were coming back for her, she fled with her five children and two grandchildren. She has lost everything. At one point, she almost took her life because everyone who could have supported her was killed.
Appeal to the Government
Mrs Muhammed calls on both the Kwara State Government and the Federal Government to come to their aid. About four districts have already been deserted because of these attacks. The people are suffering. They need urgent help before Oke-Ode and neighboring towns are wiped out completely.
