“They shot into the air several times before forcing their way into the house. The chairman himself narrowly escaped being kidnapped. It’s a sad development for our community,” the official said.
The family of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, Muhammad Swasun, has been thrown into distress after his wife and daughter were abducted by gunmen on Sunday night.
The assailants were said to have stormed Swasun’s residence in the Sakpefu community, scaling the fence before firing sporadically to create panic. They then broke into one of the rooms and whisked away his wife, Hajiya Fatima, and daughter, Amina.
A party official who spoke on condition of anonymity described the incident as “terrifying,” adding that the gunmen seemed to have specifically targeted the chairman’s household.
“They shot into the air several times before forcing their way into the house. The chairman himself narrowly escaped being kidnapped. It’s a sad development for our community,” the official said.
A member of the APC state executive council, who also confirmed the abduction, expressed concern over the rising wave of insecurity in Kwara’s northern senatorial district.
The Kwara State Police Command also confirmed the incident. Police Public Relations Officer, Toun Ejire, said officers had already launched a manhunt for the kidnappers.
“We are working with local vigilantes and other security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and to bring the perpetrators to justice,” Ejire stated.
Patigi, along with other communities such as Ifelodun and Edu, has in recent months witnessed an upsurge in kidnappings and armed attacks, raising concerns about the safety of residents in the area.
