ILORIN — Gunmen suspected to be bandits have kidnapped the wife and daughter of Alhaji Muhammad Swasun, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sakpefu community, Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The attack occurred on Sunday night when the assailants invaded the community, shooting sporadically to scare residents before storming the chairman’s residence.
The victims were identified as Hajiya Fatima, the chairman’s wife, and Amina, his daughter.
A member of the APC State Executive Council, who confirmed the incident to Vanguard on Monday under anonymity, said Alhaji Swasun narrowly escaped being abducted.
“It’s true that our chairman’s wife and daughter in Patigi were kidnapped last night. I spoke with him this morning; he said he was just lucky not to have been taken. The bandits jumped over his fence, fired gunshots, and then forced their way into one of the rooms where his wife and daughter were. They whisked them away while shooting into the air,” the party official recounted.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers operated for several minutes before fleeing with their victims to an undisclosed location.
Patigi and other parts of Kwara North have been plagued by repeated abductions in recent months, heightening fears among residents. Communities have consistently called on the government and security agencies to intensify operations against bandit groups terrorising the region.
Only recently, gunmen invaded Shagbe community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, killing residents and abducting several others during an attack on the palace of the local monarch.
