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By Oscar Okhifo
A police officer attached to the Lade Division in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State has been kidnapped by suspected terrorists, raising fresh concerns about worsening insecurity in the North-Central state.
The victim, identified as John Ezra, was reportedly abducted along the Lade–Patigi road on his way from an official duty. Sources said Ezra had been part of a security team deployed to guard the Patigi General Hospital before he was seized by the assailants.
As of press time, the Kwara State Police Command said it was yet to obtain full details of the abduction.
The latest incident adds to the rising spate of insecurity in Patigi, Edu and Ifelodun Local Government Areas, where bandit attacks and kidnappings have become increasingly frequent.
Local residents say more than 30 villages have been affected in recent months, with families forced to pay heavy ransoms or flee their homes.
Earlier in June, two police officers were killed and two workers abducted when armed men stormed a mining site in Ifelodun LGA, underscoring the vulnerability of security personnel and civilians in the region.
The abduction has further fueled public fears that Nigeria’s police officers who should be safeguarding lives and property are themselves becoming endangered.
Citizens point to a recent embarrassing incident in which a police vehicle was reportedly stolen from Force Headquarters, describing it as a shocking reflection of how insecure even the police and their facilities have become.
“Nigerians are yet to come to terms with such gory news,” one resident said. “If police officers and their properties are unsafe, then ordinary citizens are even more vulnerable.”
Analysts insist that whatever it takes, security agencies must first secure the police and their assets in order to restore public confidence and enable them to effectively protect Nigerians and their properties.
Meanwhile, the fate of Officer Ezra remains uncertain, with no ransom demand or claim of responsibility made public as at the time of filing this report.