Terrorists killed four soldiers and abducted several residents during a pre-dawn raid on Kemanji community in Kwara State on Monday, fulfilling a written threat sent to the area days prior.
A group of heavily armed terrorists invaded Kemanji community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State in the early hours of Monday, April 20, 2026, killing at least four soldiers and abducting several residents. The assault, which began around 3:00 a.m., reportedly followed a chilling written threat sent by the attackers to the community days earlier. Sources revealed that the insurgents stormed the town under the cover of darkness, firing sporadically and utilizing explosive devices to target military positions, which significantly weakened the initial local defence and sent panicked residents fleeing into the bush for safety.
Security personnel, comprised of Nigerian Army troops and local vigilantes, engaged the bandits in a fierce gunfight that lasted approximately two hours. Despite the resistance, the attackers’ superior numbers and coordination allowed them to overpower the security detail stationed in the area. A resident, who witnessed the chaos, noted that the insurgents appeared prepared for a prolonged confrontation. “They came in large numbers and started shooting immediately. The soldiers tried their best to repel them, but the attackers had already gained ground,” the source disclosed.
The aftermath of the confrontation left four soldiers dead and a member of the local vigilante group in critical condition with severe gunshot wounds. Beyond the military casualties, the terrorists successfully abducted an unspecified number of villagers before retreating. The use of an explosive device early in the raid has raised significant concerns regarding the increasing sophistication of tactical gear used by bandits in the North-Central region. Security agencies are reportedly combing the surrounding forests in an effort to rescue the kidnapped victims and track down the perpetrators.
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