Residents of Adanla, a suburb of Igbaja in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, were thrown into fear on Friday evening following a reported attack by suspected bandits that led to the abduction of several people.
The incident reportedly occurred around 7pm on December 26, when armed men stormed the agrarian community in large numbers. Witnesses said the attackers fired sporadically as they moved from house to house, forcing residents to flee and submit out of fear.
A community leader in Igbaja and Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, confirmed the attack. He explained that security volunteers were immediately mobilised after distress calls were received from the area.
According to him, local hunters and vigilantes from Igbaja were deployed to Adanla, while the Brigade Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade was alerted and ordered soldiers in the area to respond swiftly. Military personnel later arrived in two operational vehicles to reinforce local efforts.
Despite the intervention, the bandits were said to have escaped with no fewer than seven abducted persons before security operatives reached the community. A woman was also reportedly wounded during the attack, while several residents sustained injuries as they tried to flee.
Eyewitnesses said many families abandoned their homes, seeking refuge in nearby bushes and neighbouring communities to avoid further harm.
As of Saturday morning, there was no official confirmation from the police. The spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said she was yet to receive a detailed briefing on the incident but assured that updates would be provided once information becomes available.
The attack has renewed concerns over security in rural communities across Kwara State, where residents have continued to call for increased security presence and rapid response mechanisms.
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