By Ayomide Otitoju
Gunmen suspected to be terrorists have reportedly killed five people in Kemanji, a border community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, in a fresh attack that has heightened security concerns in the area.
The incident was said to have occurred in the early hours of Monday when the assailants stormed the community and engaged security operatives, including members of local vigilance groups, in a prolonged gun battle.
Residents said the attackers invaded the community around 3:00 a.m., triggering intense exchanges of gunfire that lasted for about two hours, forcing many villagers to flee into nearby bushes and neighbouring settlements for safety.
Although there has been no official confirmation from security authorities, some residents claimed that soldiers were among those killed during the attack.
“Bandits invaded Kemanji this morning around 3:00 a.m. Our security agents, the army, and local vigilantes engaged them in an intense gun battle that lasted till 5 a.m. They killed a few of our soldiers,” one resident said, urging prayers for the deceased.
Another community source said a vigilante member was also killed, while putting the death toll at five.
“There was a heavy gunshot this morning in Kemanji. Four gallant soldiers were killed, and one vigilante was hit by a bullet,” the resident stated.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not issued an official statement on the incident, and it remained unclear whether any residents were abducted during the attack. Efforts to obtain confirmation from the Kwara State Police Command and military authorities were unsuccessful.
The latest attack comes just 10 days after five forest guards, including a commander, were killed in Nuku community, also in Kaiama LGA, in a similar assault by armed bandits who reportedly destroyed motorcycles and set buildings ablaze.
Kaiama LGA has witnessed repeated attacks in recent months, including a February 2026 incident in which at least 75 people were killed across several communities. Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq described the attack as a “pure massacre,” confirming mass burials of victims.
Following the February violence, President Bola Tinubu ordered the deployment of a military battalion under Operation Savannah Shield to reinforce security in the state.
Police authorities had earlier noted that difficult terrain and poor access to affected communities have hampered rapid response to attacks in the area.
