Terrorists Abduct Four Rice Farmers in Kwara’s Edu LGA
Barely 24 hours after a violent incident in Eruku town, suspected bandits launched another attack in Kwara State, abducting four rice farmers in Bokungi Village, Edu Local Government Area. According to reports, the incident happened on Wednesday evening, while the victims were harvesting rice in their fields. Eyewitnesses said the assailants surrounded the farmers, opened sporadic gunfire, and forced them into the nearby bush before whisking them away.
Confirmation and Context
A senior police officer at the Edu Divisional Police Headquarters confirmed that efforts are underway to rescue the abducted farmers. Security sources say the attack appears coordinated, heightening fears among locals who say farming settlements are being deserted due to persistent insecurity.
Shockingly, community sources later told Sahara Reporters that two of the four farmers have reportedly been killed by their captors. The remaining two are still unaccounted for, and no ransom demand has been made so far.
“We want to inform you that we cannot sleep with our two eyes closed again talk-less of going to our farms again.”- A villager in Bokungi
Such attacks are taking a heavy toll on farming activity, especially during the harvest season when farmers are most vulnerable. The abduction is the latest in a string of security incidents in the Edu LGA, with residents calling on both state and federal authorities to step up protection.
Authorities’ Response
Local police say they have briefed the Kwara State Command and are intensifying patrols and intelligence gathering to secure the release of the kidnappers. Meanwhile, community leaders urge the government to deploy more security assets across vulnerable farming areas like Bokungi.
This abduction of rice farmers in Bokungi is a grave reminder of the growing threat of banditry and terrorism in Kwara State. The reported killing of two victims deepens the sense of urgency among residents. As insecurity forces farmers to flee their lands, the local economy and food production face real danger. Authorities must act swiftly—not just to rescue the kidnapped, but to protect innocent civilians working in their fields.
