Fresh Bandit Terror Hits Kwara Community
In a disturbing escalation of violence, armed bandits have abducted eleven residents from Isapa community in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. The attack occurred on Monday evening, marking the second major security incident in the region within a week.
The assailants, estimated to be between 20 and 30 armed men, stormed the community around 6:00 p.m. with a large herd of cattle, immediately creating panic among residents.
Details of the Attack
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers fired shots indiscriminately as they moved through the community. An elderly woman was reportedly struck by a stray bullet during the chaotic incident.
A community leader who requested anonymity confirmed that eleven people were taken captive, with seven of the victims belonging to the same family. The attackers left visible evidence of their violence, with bullet holes marking walls and doors throughout the community.
Security personnel later recovered expended AK-47 shells from the scene after the bandits had fled. In a small ray of hope, three of the abducted persons managed to escape from their captors.
Growing Security Crisis
This latest incident has dramatically heightened tensions across Kwara State, coming just days after gunmen raided the Christ Apostolic Church in neighboring Eruku. In that previous attack, three people were killed and 38 worshippers were kidnapped.
President Bola Tinubu announced on Sunday that all 38 church abductees had regained their freedom, though he provided no details about the rescue operation. The kidnappers had previously demanded a ransom of N100 million per victim.
The President referenced the broader insecurity affecting Nigeria, noting ongoing efforts to rescue 315 students abducted from St. Mary's Private Primary and Secondary School in Niger State. He emphasized that he had canceled his trip to the G20 Summit in South Africa to coordinate the national response, stating firmly that "Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety."
Official Response and Security Measures
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the Kwara State Government has ordered the closure of schools in four local government areas as a precautionary measure.
Kwara Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed the Isapa attack but indicated he was still assessing the situation. "Yes, there was an incident, but I cannot say much for now. I am about to enter Isapa from Ilorin. I will update you when I get there," he stated.
Security agencies, supported by local vigilante groups, are currently conducting extensive searches in surrounding forests in an effort to track the abductors and rescue the remaining eight victims.
