Local hunters who confronted the assailants described being outgunned despite their resistance. One hunter, who spoke anonymously, recounted the intensity of the confrontation, stating, “Those people came with sophisticated weapons. We tried our best, but we were overwhelmed.” He also raised suspicions about a security lapse, claiming their guns had been collected for “servicing” just before the attack.
The attack created numerous personal tragedies, including the deaths of the Baale of Ogba Ayo and his brother. A relative described hiding in a roof during the assault and discovering their bodies in pools of blood. Another resident, Gbemisola Muhammed, became a widow after her husband, a hunter who had premonitions of danger, was ambushed and killed.
The violence extended beyond Oke-Ode to surrounding villages, with reports of entire families being kidnapped, including a two-month-old baby and a popular doctor known as Baba Gold along with his wife and children. The scale of the attack triggered a mass exodus, with commercial drivers confirming over 200 vehicles evacuated residents between Sunday and Wednesday.
In response, Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has vowed to establish a civilian task force to bolster local security and ensure justice for the victims, whom he described as heroes. The state police command has also intensified joint operations with other security agencies to restore calm and rout the bandits from the area.