The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed that no fewer than 12 people, including the Baale of Ogbayo, were killed during a bandit attack on Oke-Ode community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state on Sunday morning.

The command said the incident occurred at approximately 7 a.m., when armed men stormed the Ogbayo area of Oke-Ode, firing sporadically and targeting members of the local vigilante group.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said operatives of the command and personnel of the National Forest Security Service swiftly responded to distress calls, but 12 vigilante members were already found dead.

The statement added that four injured victims were immediately taken to hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were evacuated.

"At about 7:00 a.m. today, armed men invaded the Ogbayo area of Oke-Ode, shooting sporadically.

"A combined team of police operatives and members of the National Forest Security Service responded swiftly to the scene, where they discovered 12 lifeless bodies of vigilante members, including the Baale of Ogbayo," the statement partly read.

Ejire-Adeyemi noted that the police, in collaboration with the military and NFSS, had intensified manhunt operations to track down the perpetrators, assuring residents that justice would be served.

The Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, while commiserating with families of the victims, described the killings as "heinous" and pledged the command's unwavering commitment to the safety of lives and property across the state.

Sunday's attack adds to a growing wave of violent raids in parts of Kwara, particularly in the North and South, where communities, vigilantes, and business owners have increasingly become targets of armed bandits.

PUNCH Online earlier reported that no fewer than 15 vigilantes and hunters were killed on Sunday morning when armed bandits invaded Oke-Ode community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

An unspecified number of residents were also reportedly kidnapped during the attack, which left the community in mourning.

A video of the incident obtained by PUNCH Online showed the bodies of slain vigilantes lying on the ground.

A member of the local vigilante group in the town, identified simply as Ajetunmobi, told our correspondent that the government was being economical with the truth by claiming the attackers were repelled.