Bandits abduct, kill residents – Police, state govt talk tough
Gunmen suspected to be bandits on Friday afternoon invaded Babanla community in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing an unconfirmed number of people, including security operatives.
It was recalled that a similar attack occurred in the same local government area last Friday, in Ganmu community, where two people were killed and three abducted.
In response to the latest incident, the state government has established an immediate security cordon around Babanla.
According to a viral voice note by a resident, the armed attackers fired sporadically, targeted the local police station and looted several grocery shops and a hotel before being repelled by security forces and some brave members of the community.
The resident claimed that the invaders numbered about 300 and described them as herders.
He added that most members of the local vigilante group were absent during the invasion, having reportedly travelled for a meeting, a development which, he said, gave the attackers a free hand to loot shops, homes and cart away food items.
He said the number of those killed or kidnapped could not yet be ascertained, adding that many residents fled to Oreke, a neighbouring community, for safety.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the incident, describing it as “a sad development.”
She quoted the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, as saying that the command was on top of the situation and had deployed additional security operatives to the area to contain the attack and forestall future incidents.
In a separate statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the government had taken swift measures to secure Babanla following the breach.
“The criminals on Friday targeted a police station, attempted to loot a few grocery shops and a hotel in the community before they were repelled by the security forces and bold members of the community,” the statement read.
It added that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who has been in constant touch with security commanders and local vigilante leaders, has ordered a sustained security lockdown of the axis to neutralise the threat and ensure public safety.
“While further briefings are awaited, the Governor reassures the public that concerted efforts are being made, in coordination with the Office of the National Security Adviser, to cleanse the area of the criminals,” the statement continued.
The governor also urged residents to give maximum support to security forces and not to panic as operations continue in the area.
Two persons killed, three abducted on Thursday
On Friday last week, in the same local government area, two travellers were killed and three others abducted by unknown gunmen in Ganmu village, in the same Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.
Saturday Tribune gathered that the victims were travelling from Lagos to Babanla town when their vehicle developed a flat tyre near Ganmu.
While attempting to fix the fault, they were ambushed by five armed men. The attackers shot dead Alhaji Abdulrazak Ewenla, a native of Ajia village, and Jimoh Audu from Ganmu.
The gunmen also abducted Kazeem Ajide, Wahidi and Mufutau (surnames of the latter two yet to be confirmed) and took them to an unknown location.
In a statement on Thursday, the state police spokesperson, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the incident and assured the public that investigations were ongoing.
She said every effort was being made to rescue the abductees unharmed and apprehend the perpetrators.
The statement also addressed a viral video circulating on social media, which claimed that residents of Ganmu Ahileri near Babanla had fled due to repeated bandit attacks, portraying the community as a “ghost town.”
