By Our Reporter
At least 20 people have been killed following an attack by armed bandits on four communities in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The affected communities—Aba Alajido, Aba Sunday, Aba Pastor, and Ademekun—were struck at midnight, prompting residents to flee in panic.
Eyewitnesses suggest the death toll could be higher, with some estimating over 40 fatalities and many people still missing. One resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described the violence, stating, “The attack started last Monday, but the most intense assault took place on Friday night. The bandits attacked while people were asleep, opening fire indiscriminately. Many ran into the bush, but some weren’t so fortunate.”
He further added, “Security forces arrived on Sunday and recovered some bodies, but many are still unaccounted for. If they search more thoroughly, more bodies will likely be found in the bush.”
Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Funmi Odunlami, confirmed the attack and stated that an investigation had begun, with officers deployed to restore order. “The matter was reported on Saturday regarding the attack on Aba Pastor community. The command immediately took action to ensure normalcy and to track down the perpetrators,” she said.
Princess Adelowo Adekemisola, Regent of Ademekun Community, revealed that 14 people were killed in her community alone. “For the past six years, we’ve been enduring attacks from herdsmen. This time, 14 lives were lost over the weekend when they infiltrated our community and began shooting sporadically,” she said.
Adekemisola has called for immediate intervention from the state government and security agencies to protect the affected communities.