Gunmen suspected to be bandits have kidnapped the wife and daughter of Alhaji Muhammad Swasun, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The incident has thrown the local community into panic, coming on the heels of a series of recent attacks in the region.
Just days earlier, bandits raided Esanti and Lalagi villages in the Patigi axis, killing a driver and abducting another resident. Similarly, on Saturday, armed men stormed Shagbe community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, attacked the monarch’s palace, killed some residents, and kidnapped others. Another assault was also reported late Sunday night in Sakpefu community, Patigi LGA.
According to community sources, the latest incident occurred around 11 p.m. when the assailants invaded Swasun’s community, firing shots before proceeding directly to his residence. They allegedly broke into the house and abducted his wife, Hajia Fatima, and daughter, Amina.
Residents immediately alerted local vigilantes, who rushed to the scene but were unable to stop the attackers from escaping into the nearby forest. Vigilante groups have since been deployed in a search-and-rescue operation.
A source told reporters:
“The suspected kidnappers are yet to get in touch with the APC chairman for probably ransom.”
Confirming the incident, a senior officer at the Patigi Divisional Police Station, who requested anonymity, said:
“We have informed the state Police Command of the incident and they have swung into action to rescue the victims without further delay.”
