A deadly pre-dawn assault on Kemanji community in Kwara State has left several soldiers and vigilantes dead, with security operatives injured and military weapons carted away in what appears to be a highly coordinated attack by armed assailants.
It was gathered that the attack occurred around 3:00am on Monday when heavily armed gunmen stormed the community and directly struck a joint security post made up of soldiers, forest guards, and local vigilantes.
A former local government chairman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the raid as swift and overwhelming.
“They came into Kemanji around 3am and attacked the security post. They killed three soldiers and two vigilantes, while many others were injured,” he said.
The attackers reportedly made away with significant military hardware, including about twelve motorcycles, firearms, ammunition, and even a military gun truck—an incident that has heightened concerns over the growing boldness and capability of armed groups operating in rural areas.
Injured personnel were evacuated shortly after the attack, with critically wounded operatives referred to Ilorin for advanced medical treatment, while others are being managed at Kaiama General Hospital.
Despite the violence, residents said civilians were not directly targeted during the raid, as the attackers appeared focused solely on the security formation.
Another resident, Mohammed Mohammed, confirmed the scale of the assault and the loss of equipment.
“They invaded the community and killed three military officers. They took their armoured vehicle along with motorcycles, arms and ammunition,” he said.
Following the incident, security forces have launched a pursuit operation, combing nearby forests in an attempt to track down the attackers, though there has been no confirmation of arrests so far.
The attack underscores the escalating threat posed by armed groups in parts of Nigeria, as security agencies continue to struggle with mobility, intelligence gaps, and sustained rural patrol coverage.
Kemanji under siege: soldiers killed, weapons seized in Kwara raid
