A deadly bandit raid on Kokodo village in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State has claimed four lives and left two residents kidnapped.

The incident occurred late Thursday night at around 11:40 p.m., when the assailants launched an attack on local hunters who attempted to repel them.

According to eyewitnesses, three hunters were killed on the spot, while a fourth victim, who suffered severe gunshot wounds, later died on Thursday morning while receiving treatment. The bandits also abducted two villagers before fleeing. Identities of the victims have not yet been made public.

The attack adds to the growing wave of insecurity in Kwara North, where residents continue to face frequent assaults from armed groups. Locals in Kokodo have expressed deep fear for their safety, urging authorities to establish a permanent security presence in the area.

Meanwhile, concerns over insecurity in Kwara North have intensified following reports that the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Muhammad Kudu Kawu, recently threatened journalists against publishing stories on terrorism and banditry in the region.

According to SaharaReporters, the monarch allegedly summoned journalists to his palace on Sunday, September 2, 2025, warning them to stop reporting such incidents. A source within the emirate, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed the Emir said he was acting on the orders of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

“You know that the Kwara State Government has once threatened The Informant247 not to report insecurity issues in Kwara North,” the source revealed. “The governor said SaharaReporters, Nupeko TV, and The Informant247 are exposing the government because their reports on insecurity in Lafiagi and Patigi have been embarrassing him.”

Journalists in the region are now reportedly working under fear of arrest and harassment, even as bandit attacks continue to escalate across Lafiagi, Patigi, and other parts of Kwara North.