Bandits raid Kwara communities, abduct family of 3, many others

Suspected terrorists have launched fresh attacks on communities in Kwara State, abducting a family of three and at least 15 other residents in a series of coordinated assaults across Ifelodun Local Government Area.

The latest incident reportedly took place on Thursday afternoon in Olodan, a community in the Ora District, where armed gunmen stormed the area in broad daylight. During the attack, a man, his wife, and their child were abducted and taken to an unknown destination.

Sources revealed that the overnight raids in other parts of the local government area also led to the kidnapping of several individuals, bringing the total number of victims to no fewer than 18.

“There was kidnapping too at Olodan in Ora District this afternoon. Three people were involved — a family of three: husband, wife and child,” the source said.

In a related development, no fewer than 15 persons were abducted overnight in separate attacks at Kajola and Idi-Iya Fulani Camp, communities located near Yaru in the Igbaja District of the same Ifelodun Local Government Area.

Efforts to rescue the victims have so far yielded no success, despite the mobilisation of local security networks.

A source disclosed that a joint rescue team comprising Forest Guards, local hunters, and vigilante groups from Ifelodun and neighbouring Isin Local Government Areas combed the forests throughout the day but failed to secure the release of any of the abducted victims.

“Efforts of the rescue team comprising Forest Guards, hunters and vigilante squad from Ifelodun and Isin LGAs throughout the day proved abortive,” the source said.

The fresh wave of abductions has once again raised concerns over the growing insecurity in Kwara State, particularly in Kwara south where residents have repeatedly lamented the absence of adequate security presence.

Community members are now calling on the state government and federal security agencies to urgently deploy more personnel and intelligence resources to the affected areas to prevent further attacks and secure the release of those kidnapped.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities in Kwara State have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incidents.

(SaharaReporters)