Tragedy struck Lile village in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday night, as suspected bandits invaded the home of a prominent businessman and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward leader, Abdullahi Shehu Kpotun, killing him and his son during a failed abduction attempt.
According to local sources who spoke to Channels TV, the gunmen stormed the community under the cover of darkness and opened fire during the attempted kidnapping, turning what was meant to be a targeted operation into a night of terror.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the violence was not limited to the PDP stalwart’s household, as the assailants also attacked another family in the village, killing at least one more person.
“It was not only his family the bandits attacked last night. They attacked another family and killed someone there too,” a resident told Channels TV.
The incident has thrown the Patigi community into mourning, as residents wake to the reality of a growing wave of insecurity spreading across rural parts of the state.
Reacting to the killings, former Senate President Bukola Saraki condemned the attack in strong terms, describing it as “barbaric, painful, and unacceptable.”
In a statement issued by his Press Officer on Local Matters, Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, Saraki expressed his sorrow over the brutal murder of Kpotun and his son.
He said, “This is a devastating loss. I am heartbroken by the news of the gruesome killing of Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu Kpotun and his son.
“My thoughts and prayers are with their immediate family and the Patigi community in this difficult time.”
Saraki also called on the Kwara State Government and security agencies to act swiftly in addressing the spate of insecurity, warning that such tragic incidents must not become the norm.
He said, “This rising tide of insecurity in our dear state must not be allowed to continue. Government and security agencies must act swiftly and decisively to prevent further tragedies.”