Suspected bandits abduct traditional ruler, women, child in fresh Kwara attacks

Suspected bandits have launched fresh attacks on communities across Kwara State, abducting the first wife of the Baale of Dabu in Ifelodun Local Government Area, a traditional ruler in Isin, and several other residents, including women and a child.

 

The attacks, which occurred between Friday night and Saturday, have heightened concerns over insecurity in parts of Kwara, with residents and community groups calling for urgent security intervention and the rescue of those in captivity.

 

In Dabu, the gunmen reportedly invaded the community on Friday night and abducted the first wife of the Baale, popularly known as Iya Ayoka.

 

The Kwara South Development Forum, in a statement issued on Sunday, called for her immediate rescue and said residents were no longer willing to contribute money to pay ransom for kidnapped victims.

 

“We are not ready to pay a dime. The government needs to bring her back to us,” the group said.

 

The forum, through its Secretary, Olasehinde Oluwatoba, said repeated kidnappings had placed a heavy financial burden on residents, many of whom had contributed money to secure the release of previous victims.

 

It also alleged that residents who had fled their communities due to insecurity had begun returning before the latest attacks renewed fears of further displacement.

 

The group further called for the rescue of 23-year-old Babatunde Fasilat, who was abducted during an earlier attack on Wande community.

 

A source familiar with the incident said four armed men invaded the community and abducted Fasilat after shooting her father, who had attempted to resist the attackers.

 

“Her father was shot, and the bullet penetrated the other side of his body. The bandits were four. While her father was trying to defend himself, they went to her room and kidnapped her,” the source said.

 

The KSDF alleged that the kidnappers were demanding N20m for Fasilat’s release and had been using her TikTok account to contact people while making ransom demands.

 

The group also said Fasilat’s father had been hospitalised following the shooting and was still battling health challenges.

 

Meanwhile, armed men reportedly abducted the traditional ruler of Igbesi land in Isin Local Government Area on Saturday.

 

Igbesi is a community within Oke-Onigbin town. An elder, who spoke anonymously, said the attackers invaded the community, fired shots and whisked the monarch away into the bush.

 

The reported incident adds to previous attacks on traditional rulers in Kwara. In April, suspected bandits abducted the traditional ruler of Olayinka community in Ifelodun LGA, Oba Salman Aweda, alongside his wife and another resident.

 

In Kwara North, gunmen reportedly attacked a fuel station in Kokona village, also known as Yana Tsonga, in the Tsaragi district of Edu Local Government Area, on Friday night and abducted two people.

 

One of the victims was reportedly a final-year student of Adesina College of Education who was at the filling station to celebrate her sign-out programme. The second victim was identified by some sources as a female fuel station employee, although the identities could not be independently verified.

 

Less than 24 hours later, another attack was reported in Wodata Rumallan, also known as Gidan Panu, in the Lafiagi area of Edu LGA.

 

A source identified as Musa said gunmen attacked the community at about 9:17pm on Saturday, firing shots and causing panic among residents.

 

Two people, identified as a child, Rukayat, and her stepmother, Hazare, were reportedly missing after the attack.

 

A community leader said soldiers arrived about an hour after the attackers left, while the number of casualties remained unclear.

 

The KSDF called on the Kwara State Government, Federal Government and security agencies to intensify operations in forests and other suspected hideouts and secure the release of the abducted victims.

 

“We are calling on the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and security agencies to immediately secure the release of all abducted victims in Kwara South and put an end to insecurity in the region,” the forum said.