Bandit Attack in Kwara Claims Lives of PDP Leader and Son During Failed Kidnapping

Tragedy struck Lile village in the Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday night when suspected bandits launched a deadly attack, killing prominent businessman and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward leader, Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu Kpotun, alongside his son during a failed abduction attempt.

Eyewitness accounts revealed that the attackers arrived under the cover of night and opened fire during the botched kidnapping, turning the scene into one of chaos and bloodshed. Local reports indicate that the gunmen didn’t stop at Kpotun’s residence; they also targeted another household in the village, claiming at least one additional life.

“It was not only his family the bandits attacked last night. They attacked another family and killed someone there too,” a resident told journalists.

The brutal incident has sent shockwaves through the Patigi community, deepening concerns over the growing security crisis affecting rural parts of Kwara State.

In reaction, former Senate President Bukola Saraki issued a strong condemnation, describing the killings as “barbaric, painful, and unacceptable.” Speaking through his Press Officer on Local Matters, Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, Saraki expressed deep sorrow over the incident.

“This is a devastating loss. I am heartbroken by the news of the gruesome killing of Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu Kpotun and his son,” he stated. “My thoughts and prayers are with their immediate family and the Patigi community in this difficult time.”

Saraki urged both the Kwara State Government and security agencies to act urgently to curtail the surge in violence, warning that such atrocities must not be allowed to persist unchecked.

“This rising tide of insecurity in our dear state must not be allowed to continue. Government and security agencies must act swiftly and decisively to prevent further tragedies,” he said.