Gunmen attacked Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing five people, including a police officer, Adejumo Wasiu.
Following the assault, security forces comprising Nigerian Army soldiers, police officers, Department of State Services operatives, and local vigilantes swiftly mobilised to track down the assailants.
The violence forced residents to flee their homes and villages, seeking safety in neighbouring communities.
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the incident on Sunday in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi.
According to the statement, “On 8 August 2025, armed criminals, numbering in their hundreds and riding motorcycles, invaded Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area. They attacked the divisional police headquarters and raided the market.
“The assailants fired sporadically, killing five people, including Police Officer Adejumo Wasiu. A swift, coordinated response by police operatives, Nigerian Army personnel, vigilantes, and local hunters repelled the attack, restored order, and launched a full-scale manhunt for the perpetrators.”
The statement further noted that the Commissioner of Police for Kwara State Command, Adekimi Ojo, and the Director of the Department of State Services in Kwara State conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation in Babanla.
They met with His Royal Highness, Oba Yusuf Aliyu Alabi Arojojoye II, the traditional ruler of Babanla, and held high-level discussions to consolidate peace and strengthen inter-agency and community security cooperation.
The joint security delegation toured key locations in the community, including the market, the divisional police headquarters, and surrounding areas, to ensure stability had been restored.
The Commissioner of Police ordered sustained armed patrols, ongoing intelligence gathering, and the deployment of specialised tracking teams. The DSS pledged continuous intelligence support to identify and apprehend all those involved.
The command reaffirmed its unwavering commitment, in collaboration with other security agencies, to protecting lives and property across Kwara State. It urged residents to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative by providing credible information to security operatives.