Suspected terrorists have reportedly killed at least five people in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, in the latest attack to hit the region.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday in Kemanji, a border community and administrative headquarters of Kemanji Ward.
Residents said the attackers stormed the community around 3:00 a.m., engaging security personnel, including soldiers and local vigilantes, in a fierce gun battle that lasted for hours.
The exchange of gunfire forced many residents to flee their homes, seeking refuge in nearby bushes and neighbouring communities.
A local resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said several security operatives were killed during the attack.
“Bandits invaded Kemanji around 3:00 a.m. Our security agents,the army and vigilantes engaged them in an intense gun battle that lasted until about 5:00 a.m. They killed some of our soldiers. We are still assessing the full extent of the damage,” the source said.
Another resident confirmed that a member of the local vigilance group was also killed, adding that at least four soldiers lost their lives in the attack.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to issue an official statement, and it remained unclear whether any residents were abducted.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the police and military authorities were unsuccessful.
Renewed insecurity in Kaiama
The latest incident underscores growing security concerns in Kaiama, which has witnessed a series of violent attacks in recent months.
Just 10 days earlier, suspected bandits killed five forest guards, including a commander, in Nuku community, also in Kaiama. The attackers reportedly destroyed motorcycles and set several buildings ablaze.
In February 2026, at least 75 people were killed in coordinated attacks across communities in the area, prompting Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq to describe the incident as a “pure massacre.”
Following that attack, President Bola Tinubu ordered the deployment of additional troops under Operation Savannah Shield to reinforce security in the state.
Despite these measures, residents say the remote location of affected communities—often far from security formations—continues to hamper rapid response efforts and leaves them vulnerable to further attacks.
