Panic has gripped the Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State following another violent attack by gunmen, during which two teenage girls were abducted.
The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Monday when the assailants, suspected to be bandits, stormed the area on motorcycles and opened fire indiscriminately to instill fear.
The victims — 16-year-old Aisha Yahaya and 17-year-old Mariam Yusuf — were taken away in the chaos.
Eyewitnesses told Kwara-based broadcaster Sobi FM that the attackers had initially targeted the wife of the community’s traditional ruler, who narrowly escaped being kidnapped.
A swift response from local hunters led to a pursuit into the surrounding forest, with reports indicating that gunfire exchanges continued into Tuesday morning.
In response, a group under the aegis of Concerned Indigenes of Babanla decried the rising wave of insecurity in the area, calling on government and security agencies to take urgent, coordinated action to protect lives and property.
This latest incident comes just two days after a similar attack on Awi village, where three Fulani women were abducted. On Monday, residents of Lafiagi in the Edu Local Government Area staged a protest over the deteriorating security situation in the state, demanding stronger government intervention and enhanced security presence to stem the tide of violence.
