No fewer than four local vigilantes were yesterday killed by some suspected gunmen who invaded villages in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, leaving several others injured.
The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar informed ROYALTIMES that the gunmen mounted a camp in the National Park, moving from one community to another to terrorise the residents.
The National Park covers about 50 kilometre of land between Kaiama local council in Kwara and Borgu local government area of Niger State.
Abubakar explained that the hoodlums stormed the villages robbing the residents of their belongings particularly foodstuff, cows and goats and then return to their camp to survive on it.
According to him, when the complaint of the attack was becoming too much, the council decided to deploy its members of the local vigilante to place surveillance on the place.
“Unfortunately, when the vigilante approached them in their camp, they exchanged fire to the extent that they killed one of the vigilante men and three others are missing.
“We don’t know their whereabouts and for now and nobody can go into the bush to search for the dead body,” he said.
The council boss stated that the armed hoodlum were fond of blocking the roads at night to dispossess people of their money.
“One of our vigilante men is confirmed dead. While three others are missing, several other vigilante men were injured”, said the council chief.
The villages attacked by the gunmen according to him, were Tunga Maje, Nukku and Woro among others.
He, however, noted that the state government has taken charge and that about 50 soldiers have been deployed from the 222 battalion to comb the bush.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRP) of the Kwara State Command, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the development.
He said mobile police men had been deployed into the area and the Commissioner of Police had ordered an investigation into the issue.
He also confirmed the death of a member of the local vigilante group and three others missing.
