Panic has gripped Essanti village in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State after armed bandits abducted two sons of a community youth leader in a brazen daylight attack on Monday. The victims were reportedly seized around 1:30 p.m. while returning from their farm. Residents told that the abductors revealed to the victims that they were heading to Essanti after learning that villagers had begun fleeing the community out of fear of repeated night attacks. A source who later communicated with the kidnappers disclosed that the attackers said abducting the youth leader’s sons would reduce the need for further night invasions, as the move was meant to intimidate residents and weaken the community’s resolve. The victims, after confirming to their captors that they were from Essanti, were immediately taken hostage.