Terrorists locally referred to as bandits have attacked Igbonla community in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting several residents during a midnight invasion on Sunday.
According to sources, the attackers stormed the community around midnight, shooting indiscriminately to cause panic before whisking away an undisclosed number of residents.
“The attack happened on Sunday night. We don’t yet know the exact number of people kidnapped, but several residents were taken away,” a source who spoke under anonymity said.
The incident has thrown the area into confusion, with many residents fleeing to neighbouring villages for safety.
Security operatives, including personnel of the Nigerian Police Force and local vigilante groups, have reportedly been deployed to track down the assailants and rescue the victims.
As of press time, neither the Kwara State Police Command nor the state government had issued an official statement on the attack.
The latest incident adds to rising concerns over growing cases of banditry and kidnappings across parts of Kwara South, especially in rural areas.
In a related development, motorists in Osi and neighbouring communities in Ekiti Local Government Area recently accused police officers deployed for anti-banditry operations of extortion.
In footage obtained by SaharaReporters, officers were seen along the Osi–Eruku highway stopping vehicles and demanding money from motorists while operating with an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) meant for anti-banditry patrols.
One frustrated motorist lamented: “They are assigned to fight kidnappers, but they are here collecting money from motorists. People are being killed daily in places like Obo-Aiyegunle and Eruku, yet the police prefer to stay on the road extorting travellers.”
The development has fueled public outrage and calls for authorities to investigate the alleged misconduct while intensifying genuine efforts to curb insecurity in the region.
