At least 11 residents of Isapa, near Eruku in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have been abducted following a fresh attack by suspected bandits.
The assault, which occurred around 6:00 p.m. on Monday, was reportedly carried out by between 20 and 30 armed men who fired indiscriminately as they advanced, forcing residents to flee. An elderly woman was said to have been struck by a stray bullet during the chaos.
The incident comes barely 24 hours after the release of victims previously abducted during a church service. A Christ Apostolic Church in Ekuru was holding a thanksgiving service to celebrate the freedom of 18 worshippers kidnapped about a month earlier when gunmen stormed the building, killing three people and abducting 38 others.
A community leader, who requested anonymity, confirmed the latest abductions. “Eleven people were kidnapped, seven of them from the same household. The victims include a pregnant woman, two nursing mothers, and several young children,” he said.
Those abducted include Talatu Kabiru, 20; Magaji, 6; Kande, 5; Hadiza, 10; Mariam, 6; Saima, 5; a housewife, Habibat; another housewife, Fatima Yusufu; a pregnant woman, Sarah Sunday, 22; a nursing mother, Lami Fidelis, 23; and another nursing mother, Haja Na Allah.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers moved through parts of the town, leaving bullet holes in walls and doors. Expended AK-47 shells were found in several locations after the gunmen retreated with their captives.
The attack has heightened tension across Isapa and surrounding communities, as security agencies and local vigilante groups step up efforts to track the kidnappers and rescue the victims.
Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust. “Yes, there was an incident, but I cannot say much now. I am about to enter Isapa from Ilorin. I will update you when I get there,” he said.
The attack adds to the worsening insecurity across Nigeria, which has already led to widespread school closures, especially in the northern region.
