March 8, 2026 | Kwara State, Nigeria
Local vigilantes in Chitta community, Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, have rescued three residents abducted by suspected bandits during a midnight attack on Sunday.
SUNTV Global Channel gathered that the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday when heavily armed attackers stormed the quiet rural community around 12:00 a.m., firing sporadically to create panic among residents.
According to local sources, the gunmen forcefully seized three residents and attempted to escape through nearby bushes after the raid.
However, members of the community’s vigilante group quickly mobilised following distress calls from villagers and launched a pursuit of the fleeing bandits.
Eyewitnesses said the vigilantes tracked the attackers into a nearby forest where a confrontation occurred. Faced with resistance from the local security volunteers, the bandits reportedly abandoned the victims and fled the scene.
The three abducted residents were rescued unharmed and later reunited with their families.
A community member who spoke with SUNTV Global Channel praised the courage and swift response of the vigilantes, noting that their intervention prevented what could have turned into a prolonged kidnapping ordeal.
Residents of Patigi have since commended the bravery of the vigilantes while calling on security agencies and the Kwara State Government to strengthen security presence in the area to prevent further attacks.
Kidnapping and banditry have become persistent security threats across several rural communities in Kwara North, particularly in Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas.
The development comes shortly after suspected bandits reportedly invaded Ndeji village in Edu Local Government Area on Saturday night, abducting a housewife and her son during another late-night attack.
Residents said the attackers arrived under the cover of darkness, causing panic as they forcefully took the victims from their home before escaping into the surrounding bush.
The latest incidents have heightened fears among residents of Kwara North communities, many of whom are calling for urgent intervention from security authorities.
Reporting by SUNTV Global Channel News Desk.
