(DDM) – Kwara State was thrown into heightened tension after security forces reportedly killed notorious bandit kingpin Maidawa.
DDM gathered that Maidawa, a figure long feared across Kwara and Kogi States, was eliminated during a coordinated Nigerian Air Force airstrike near Isanlu-Isin.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq confirmed the operation, stating it followed the brutal Oke-Ode massacre last Sunday.
The Oke-Ode attack left 15 villagers and local vigilantes dead, prompting urgent military action.
Eyewitnesses say the airstrikes involved both ground troops and aerial bombardment targeting Maidawa’s hideouts.
However, the bandits retaliated swiftly, abducting a police officer, Ezra John, along the Patigi–Lade highway yesterday.
The abduction has deepened fear of escalating insecurity across Kwara State.
Advocacy group Kwara Must Change warned that without rapid federal intervention, the unrest could spill into neighboring Osun, Ekiti, and Oyo States.
The group described the situation as a potential regional crisis requiring immediate government action.
Security sources noted that several soldiers also lost their lives during the operations to eliminate Maidawa.
Local residents reported hearing heavy gunfire and seeing military convoys moving across Isanlu-Isin and surrounding villages.
State authorities assured citizens of ongoing efforts to secure the area and prevent further attacks.
Political analysts argue that the recent events underscore longstanding gaps in regional security coordination.
Communities around the Patigi–Lade highway have been advised to remain vigilant following the police officer’s abduction.
Civil society organizations are calling for urgent dialogue between federal and state authorities to prevent further bloodshed.
Meanwhile, residents continue to fear additional attacks from bandit groups seeking revenge for Maidawa’s death.
The Nigerian Air Force has not released an official casualty figure from the operation but confirmed it targeted high-value criminal elements.
Security experts note that eliminating key bandit leaders can trigger short-term retaliation before long-term stabilization occurs.
Local media report heightened military and police presence across Kwara’s vulnerable highways.
Authorities urge anyone with information about the kidnapped officer to come forward immediately.
Analysts say the crisis reflects broader insecurity trends in Nigeria’s Northwest and North-Central regions.
Residents in affected communities continue to live under tight security measures as investigations and rescue operations intensify.
The post JUST IN: Bandit Kingpin Killed In Kwara As Soldiers Die In Fierce Battle
DDM News
first appeared on Diaspora Digital Media DDM.
