A pregnant woman and ten other residents of Isapa, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, were abducted on Monday evening following a fresh assault by armed bandits. The incident comes barely a week after gunmen attacked the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Oke-Isegun, in nearby Eruku, killing three worshippers and kidnapping 38 others.
According to community sources, the attackers—estimated at between 20 and 30—stormed Isapa around 6:00 p.m., moving with a large herd of cattle and shooting indiscriminately as they advanced. An elderly woman was said to have been hit by a stray bullet during the raid.
A community leader, who requested anonymity, confirmed that the assailants abducted eleven people, seven of whom were members of the same family. Residents reported that the bandits left bullet holes in several buildings, while expended AK-47 shells were recovered after they fled. Three of the abducted victims later escaped.
The attack has heightened fears across the area, following the kidnapping of 38 worshippers in Eruku days earlier. President Bola Tinubu announced on Sunday that all 38 hostages had regained their freedom, though he did not disclose details of the rescue operation. The development came after the abductors had reportedly demanded N100 million in ransom for each victim.
The President also referenced broader insecurity concerns nationwide, stating that rescue efforts were ongoing for the 315 students abducted from St. Mary’s Private Primary and Secondary School in Niger State. He added that he had cancelled his planned trip to the G20 Summit in South Africa to coordinate the national response, stressing that “every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety.”
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the Kwara State Government has ordered the closure of schools across four local government areas.
Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed the Isapa attack but said he was still assessing the situation. “Yes, there was an incident, but I cannot say much for now. I am about to enter Isapa from Ilorin. I will update you when I get there,” he said.
Security personnel and local vigilantes have since launched a search of the surrounding forests in an effort to locate the abductors and rescue the remaining victims.
