**Curfew, School Closures Enforced
Violence has surged in Yagba West Local Government Area, as armed gangs continue a wave of attacks, leaving at least one person dead, several residents abducted, vehicles set ablaze, and schools closed. Over the past five days, the area has experienced repeated incidents of banditry and kidnapping, heightening fear and insecurity among residents.
On Tuesday night around 8:00 p.m., Juwon Ajisafe, a commercial motorcyclist, was shot dead in the Idi-Ogun area of Bareke, the commercial centre of Yagba West. A female passenger on his bike, along with two other male victims, were abducted during the attack. Soldiers stationed at the military Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Egbe, together with local vigilantes, confronted the attackers amid sustained gunfire, but the bandits managed to escape. On the same evening, the gang also targeted the home of Francis Ogungbemi, a personal assistant to Senator Sunday Karimi. Bullets riddled the entrance and interior of the residence in a failed attempt to kidnap Ogungbemi and his wife, who escaped unharmed when soldiers advanced toward the property.
These incidents followed earlier attacks, including an abduction on Monday in Odo-Ere, where two people were kidnapped and one resident was wounded by gunfire. The surge in violence prompted the Yagba West Local Government authorities to announce the immediate closure of all schools and enforce a curfew from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., effective Wednesday. Council Chairman Tosin Olokun described the measures as necessary to protect lives and restore calm in the area.
Over the past five days, Yagba West has witnessed several notable attacks. On February 28, armed men attacked a commercial bus from Abuja and a private vehicle driven by former acting Yagba West Chairman Hon. Omoniyi Adeyemi near the School of Nursing in Isanlu Makutu, Yagba East. The passengers escaped unharmed with a military escort. On the Egbe–Eruku Road, a vehicle transporting cashew products was intercepted and set ablaze after the driver and his assistant fled into the bush. Near the Lawiri River in Odo-Ere, nine bandits alighted from a cement truck, shot a resident identified as Mr. Elijah, and abducted at least two people. Along the Egbe–Okunran axis, farmers and other travellers were ambushed, with some victims kidnapped. In Bareke, the killing of Juwon Ajisafe and the abduction of three others has intensified fear among residents. Additionally, Gbenga Akolo of Koro in Kwara State was abducted while in transit between Egbe and Koro, with kidnappers demanding a ransom of 100 million Naira.
These attacks have clustered around key rural corridors crucial for cashew farming and local trade, including the Egbe–Eruku Road, Egbe–Okunran Road, and Lawiri River/Odo-Ere axis. Residents have expressed growing fear and anger, while local protests have called for a stronger security presence. Despite the deployment of soldiers and vigilantes, incidents of shootings and kidnappings continue to be reported at short intervals.
In response to the escalating insecurity, Chairman Olokun announced a review and tightening of the existing curfew. All activities, including business operations, are banned between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Violators will face prosecution, and vehicles attempting to transit during curfew hours will be impounded. Residents whose daily work or farming requires travel in remote areas are advised to limit movements to safe daylight hours. Olokun urged full cooperation with security agencies, traditional rulers, youth groups, and community leaders, stressing that timely intelligence is critical for ongoing operations. He reassured the public that the safety of lives and property remains the top priority, and that security measures will be continuously reviewed in line with evolving threats.
