Just a week after 38 members of Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, Eruku, were kidnapped and later freed, another tragic incident has struck Kwara State, with at least 11 people reportedly abducted on Monday evening in Isapa, a neighbouring community in Ekiti Local Government Area.
According to reports, the latest attack happened around 6 p.m. when an estimated 20 to 30 armed bandits entered the quiet farming community with a large herd of cattle, shooting wildly as residents scrambled to escape.
Sources confirmed that the gunmen moved through various parts of the town, firing into houses.
Bullet marks were later discovered on walls, windows and wooden doors, underscoring the severity of the assault.
A community leader, who spoke under anonymity, confirmed that eleven people were taken away, adding that seven of the victims were members of the same family. Residents said the attackers left bullet holes on walls and doors, while expended AK-47 shells were recovered after they fled.
Three of the abducted persons were said to have escaped.
The latest incident has heightened tensions across the area, coming days after bandits kidnapped 38 worshippers in Eruku. President Bola Tinubu announced on Sunday that all 38 had regained their freedom but did not disclose details of the operation. His statement followed earlier demands by the abductors for a ransom of N100 million per victim.
The Kwara 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 agencies and local vigilantes are currently searching the surrounding forests in an effort to track the abductors and rescue the remaining victims.