A police officer, Ezra John, attached to the Lade Division of the Kwara State Police Command, was abducted by gunmen in the Patigi Local Government Area in the early hours of Thursday.
Officer John was reportedly returning from official duty at the Patigi General Hospital to his base in Lade when the incident occurred along the Patigi–Lade road—a route notorious for frequent criminal attacks.
The spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the officer’s abduction, noting that his motorcycle was discovered abandoned on the roadside.
Ejire-Adeyemi assured the public that the police have immediately launched a major operation to find the officer.
“We have activated tactical teams to go find him. We are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure he is safely rescued and the perpetrators brought to book,” she stated.
The spokesperson urged residents to cooperate by remaining vigilant and reporting any suspicious movements to security agencies, as the abduction intensifies fears over the growing insecurity in Patigi and its surrounding communities.
The kidnapping directly challenges a recent vow made by Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, just days earlier. Following a security council meeting on Tuesday night, the Governor had assured the public that his administration was intensifying efforts against criminal elements.
“I have assurances from the security forces to smoke out and eliminate the criminals from their hideouts. We will fight insecurity with every resource at our disposal… To any criminal who seeks to destabilise the peace in Kwara, you may run, but you cannot escape justice,” the Governor had declared.
The abduction of a serving officer so soon after the Governor’s strong statement underscores the growing audacity of criminal gangs and the pressing need for a stronger security presence in Kwara North.
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