Gunmen abduct woman and her two kids in Kwara state

A brazen attack by suspected armed terrorists occurred on Wednesday night in Ahun, a community within Ifelodun Local Government of Kwara State, resulting in the kidnapping of a mother and her two children.

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An artisan, who chose to remain anonymous, revealed to Vanguard that the assailants launched a surprise attack on the community at night, firing shots and causing widespread panic among residents.

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The bravery of the local vigilantes was instrumental in mitigating the damage, as they stood their ground against the attackers, according to the artisan, who expressed gratitude for their actions.

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The kidnapped woman is reportedly the wife of the son of the driver of the traditional ruler of Oro-Ago, also known as Baba Segun, as reliably gathered by Vanguard.

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In their chaotic escape, the assailants inflicted injuries on the victim's mother-in-law, known as Mama Segun, using a machete.

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Witnesses recounted to journalists on Thursday evening in Ilorin that the assailants arrived at the village at 9 pm, firing shots sporadically to scare away any potential interveners.

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The attack, which lasted approximately 40 minutes, prompted many villagers to attempt to flee the town en masse on Thursday.

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In response to the mass exodus, the traditional ruler of Oro-Ago intervened, instructing that no one should leave the town, reportedly asking "If they all leave now, on whom will I rule?"

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The monarch also directed military personnel in Oro-Ago to prevent any vehicles from leaving Ahun and Oro-Ago, effectively restricting movement out of the area.

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A family member of Baba Segun, based in Ilorin, commended the local vigilantes for their bravery during the encounter, recalling a distress call from his family in Ahun around 9 pm on Wednesday.

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The family member expressed concern for his aged mother's welfare in the village, upon receiving news of the attack.

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On Thursday, the Department of Security Services (DSS) in Ifelodun LGA convened a day-long meeting with members of the local vigilantes team and other stakeholders, although the outcome of the meeting was not known at the time of reporting.