Gunmen attack Kwara communities, kidnap residents and kill one

Armed men attacked several communities in Isin and Ifelodun local government areas of Kwara State on Thursday night. They kidnapped several residents and killed one person, according to sources from the area.

The attacks happened in Gaa-Oke Abba and Gaa-Alla in Isin Local Government Area, as well as in Famole in Ifelodun Local Government Area.

Reports from Sahara Reporters say the attacks took place at around 10 p.m. on Thursday. Local sources say at least two people were taken from the Gaa-Alla community.

“In Gaa-Alla, two people were taken away by the terrorists,” a source told Sahara Reporters.

“The number of people kidnapped in Gaa-Oke Abba is still unknown because efforts are ongoing to determine the full extent of the attack,” the source added.

In Famole, which is near the Oyi River in Oke-Ode Ward II of Ifelodun Local Government Area, one resident was killed when villagers confronted the attackers. Another source confirmed that there was a gunfight between the villagers and the armed men.

“The bandits’ attack on the Famole community in the night resulted in one fatality after an exchange of gunfire,” the source said.

As of now, the police have not released any official statement about these attacks.

These incidents are part of a rising number of security issues reported in Kwara State in recent months. PREMIUM TIMES reported the kidnapping of a primary school teacher, Shina Adeoye, along the Obbo-Ile, Eruku Road in Ekiti Local Government Area while he was on his way to work.

The newspaper also mentioned attacks in Edu Local Government Area, where gunmen killed a resident and kidnapped two women during a raid on a Fulani settlement in Lafiagi.

In Ifelodun Local Government Area, there are still worries about worshippers who were abducted from an ECWA church in Omugo back in March. Reports later suggested that five of those kidnapped may have died in captivity, but authorities said they are still checking these claims.

Kwara North has seen repeated attacks on communities and traditional leaders. On 25 May, suspected bandits attacked the Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area. They set part of the emir’s palace on fire and kidnapped 10 people, including the wives and children of the traditional ruler.

This attack led to a joint security operation with the military, police, forest guards, and local vigilantes.

The recent attacks in Isin and Ifelodun are expected to increase pressure on security agencies and the state government. Residents are worried about kidnappings, highway attacks, and armed groups entering rural areas.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq recently met with military leaders and backed sending more police teams to vulnerable areas after a series of attacks across the state.

Despite these actions, many residents are still calling for better security, especially in rural areas close to forests where armed groups operate.

The latest attacks happened less than three weeks after President Bola Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement (North Central), Abiodun Essiet, advised Kwara and Kogi State residents to stay away from isolated prayer spots and be more careful while traveling due to worsening security in the region.

Authorities have not yet given an official report on Thursday night’s attacks or confirmed how many people were kidnapped.