Panic in Kwara LG as Armed Bandits Storm Adanla Community, Abduct Eight

A wave of fear has gripped the Adanla community in Kwara State following a violent Friday evening invasion by suspected bandits. The attack, which occurred in the Ifelodun Local Government Area on December 26, 2025, resulted in the abduction of eight residents and left at least one woman wounded.

The assault reportedly began around 7:00 pm, transforming the quiet agrarian suburb of Igbaja into a scene of chaos. Witnesses described a large group of armed men moving house-to-house, using gunfire to terrorize and subdue the local population.

Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, a prominent community leader and Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, confirmed the harrowing details of the raid on Saturday. He noted that as soon as the alarm was raised, local security forces attempted to intercept the attackers.

“At about 7:30pm, we received a report from Adanla-Irese, a suburb of Igbaja, that bandits had entered the community,” Oyin-Zubair said.

Realizing the scale of the threat, the community network coordinated with both local vigilantes and the formal military.

“We immediately swung into action by mobilising hunters and vigilantes from Igbaja to the area. We also alerted the Brigade Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, who directed his men around the axis to respond swiftly,” he noted.

Despite the arrival of soldiers in two operational trucks, the attackers managed to retreat into the forest with their captives before the security perimeter could be fully closed.

“Unfortunately, before their arrival, the bandits had already abducted eight persons and wounded a woman. They were shooting indiscriminately to scare the locals,” Oyin-Zubair explained.

The violence forced many families to abandon their homes in a desperate bid for safety. Residents reported that several people sustained injuries while fleeing into the nearby bushes and neighboring villages under the cover of darkness.

As of Saturday morning, the Kwara State Police Command was still gathering intelligence on the specific identities of those taken and the current location of the assailants.

When contacted for an update, the command’s spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, asked for patience as the investigation unfolds.

“I am yet to be properly briefed about the incident. I got the information last night too, but as soon as I have details, I will get back to you,” she said.

The Adanla community remains on high alert as local hunters and security agencies continue to comb the surrounding areas in hopes of rescuing the victims.