The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed a violent attack on the Isapa community in Ekiti Local Government Area, which resulted in the abduction of 10 residents. According to a statement from the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the incident occurred on Monday evening around 6:05 p.m. when a group of armed men, suspected to be herders, stormed the village. The attackers reportedly fired sporadically, causing panic as residents fled for safety. A woman sustained a gunshot wound to the leg but has since been treated and discharged ¹ ² ³.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the gunmen, numbering between 20 and 30, moved through the community with a herd of cattle, targeting residents and damaging properties. Among the abducted individuals are seven members of a single family, including young children, two nursing mothers, and a pregnant woman. The victims were identified as Talatu Kabiru (20), Magaji (6), Kande (5), Hadiza (10), Mariam (6), Saima (5), Habibat, Fatima Yusufu, Sarah Sunday (22, pregnant), Lami Fidelis (23, nursing mother), and Haja Na Allah (nursing mother) ¹ ⁴ ⁵.
In response to the attack, the Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, visited the Isapa community for an on-the-spot assessment. He met with traditional rulers, including the Onisapa of Isapa Land, Oba Gbenga Adeyeye, and other local leaders, assuring residents of intensified efforts to rescue the victims safely. A joint search-and-rescue operation involving police tactical teams and local vigilante groups is currently underway, combing the surrounding forests for the abductors ² ³.
Eyewitnesses described the terrifying scene, with gunfire echoing across the village and bullet holes marking homes and buildings. Expended AK-47 shells were discovered at multiple locations after the attackers fled into the bush with their captives. Residents remain on edge as the community grapples with the aftermath of the assault, which follows a similar attack in nearby Eruku just days earlier, where 38 worshippers were kidnapped during a church service ⁴ ⁵ ⁶.
The police have reassured the public that normalcy has been restored in Isapa, with heightened security measures in place to prevent further attacks. However, the incident has deepened fears in the region, which has experienced repeated incursions by armed groups. Community leaders have called for more robust security interventions to address the growing threat of banditry and ensure the safety of residents ¹ ² ³.
This attack highlights the ongoing security challenges in Kwara State, particularly in border communities along the Kwara–Kogi axis. As the police and vigilantes continue their rescue efforts, residents are urging the government to implement long-term solutions to curb the rising wave of violence and restore public confidence in the region’s safety ⁴ ⁶ ³.