Fresh Terror in Kwara as Bandits Strike Isapa Community
Isapa community in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State has been plunged into mourning following a brutal attack by armed bandits on Monday evening. The assailants abducted no fewer than 17 residents, including members of a family whose patriarch had recently paid N2 million ransom to secure his freedom from a previous kidnapping incident.
Details of the Deadly Raid
According to eyewitness accounts, approximately seven gunmen invaded the community around 7:00 p.m., driving a large herd of cattle while firing sporadically into the air. The sudden attack sent panicked residents scrambling for safety as the bandits advanced through the town.
Tragically, an elderly woman lost her life after being struck by a stray bullet during the chaotic incident. The assailants proceeded to abduct multiple victims, including a pregnant woman, two nursing mothers, and several children among their captives.
The initial reports indicated 11 abductions, with seven victims coming from the same family. However, subsequent verification revealed the total number of kidnapped persons reached 17. Among those taken were:
- Talatu Kabiru, aged 20
- Magaji, 6 years old
- Kande, 5 years old
- Hadiza, 10 years old
- Mariam, 6 years old
- Saima, 5 years old
- Two housewives, Habibat and Fatima Yusufu
- Sarah Sunday, 22, who is pregnant
- Lami Fidelis, 23, a nursing mother
- Haja Na Allah, also a nursing mother
Targeted Attack on Previous Victim's Family
Abayomi Daramola, the treasurer of the Isapa Peoples Union, provided chilling details about the bandits' specific targeting. The gunmen deliberately stormed the residence of a local businessman who had been previously kidnapped and released after paying N2 million ransom.
Finding the businessman absent during their latest raid, the frustrated assailants instead abducted six members of his household, including his two wives and four children. The community was left littered with expended AK-47 shells and bullet holes in walls and doors, evidence of the violent nature of the attack.
Commissioner of Police for Kwara State, Ojo Adekimi, confirmed the incident to journalists, stating that he had personally visited the affected area. "Yes, there's a fresh bandit attack in Isapa. I just returned from the place. The PPRO is preparing a comprehensive report," he stated.
Government Response and Security Measures
In response to the escalating insecurity in the state, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has inaugurated a cabinet-level security committee named the 'Safer Kwara' Security Committee. The committee is headed by the deputy governor, Kayode Alabi, and includes senior security advisers, commissioners, local government chairpersons, with Mrs Olufunke Mercy Shittu from the Office of the Head of Service serving as secretary.
The committee has been tasked with developing short-, medium- and long-term strategies to strengthen public safety across Kwara State. According to a statement from the Governor's Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the committee will engage various stakeholders, including traditional rulers, to formulate a Kwara-specific security framework.
"The committee will submit its report to the governor within four weeks for further considerations and actions," the statement read, emphasizing that the initiative aims to enhance surveillance, intelligence coordination, and community-level resilience across the state.
Pattern of Violence in Kwara Region
This latest abduction follows last week's attack in nearby Eruku, where bandits killed three worshippers and abducted 38 others during a Christ Apostolic Church service. The repeated incursions have heightened concern among residents, prompting calls for sustained and targeted security interventions to protect vulnerable communities.
The persistent security challenges in the region have left many residents living in fear, with the latest incident demonstrating the audacity of criminal elements operating in the area. Community leaders and residents are increasingly demanding more robust security presence and proactive measures to prevent further attacks.
As investigations continue and security forces pursue the perpetrators, the families of the abducted victims await news of their loved ones while the entire community grapples with the trauma of the violent invasion that has left one dead and seventeen missing.
