Tension Boils in Kwara as Bandits Strike Again, Abduct 11 Including Pregnant Woman and Children
Fresh panic has swept through communities in Kwara State after yet another coordinated bandit attack left at least 11 residents abducted in Isapa, a settlement in the Ekiti Local Government Area, on Monday, 24 November 2025. The assault marks the third major kidnapping incident in the LGA within a month, deepening fears that armed groups are attempting to establish firm control over rural corridors.
The latest attack occurred around 6pm, barely one week after the abduction and subsequent release of 38 worshippers of the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, Eruku, and three weeks after 18 residents were kidnapped in the same axis.
Residents told Global Mirror News that between 20 and 30 armed bandits, accompanied by a herd of cattle, stormed Isapa and opened fire as they advanced through the community. The assailants reportedly shot into homes, prompting residents to flee into the bush. By Tuesday morning, bullet holes were found in walls, windows and wooden doors across multiple residences, indicating the intensity of gunfire unleashed during the invasion.
A community leader, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, confirmed that 11 individuals, including seven members of a single household, were taken away. Among the abducted are young children, nursing mothers and a pregnant woman.
The victims were identified as:
- Talatu Kabiru
- Magaji (6 years old)
- Kande (5 years old)
- Hadiza (10 years old)
- Mariam (6 years old)
- Saima (5 years old)
- Habibat (housewife)
- Fatima Yusufu
- Sarah Sunday (22-year-old pregnant woman)
- Lami Fidelis
- Haja Na Allah (nursing mother)
“This is the worst attack in recent times,” the community elder lamented. “Seven people from the same family were taken. Eleven people disappeared into the bush. People are terrified. We don’t know what tomorrow holds.”
A senior security official confirmed the attack on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, stating that operatives had begun combing the forests linking Isapa, Eruku and adjoining villages. He acknowledged that despite the federal reinforcements deployed after the Eruku church incident, surveillance remains challenging due to the vast forest terrain and the numerous settlements scattered around it.
“Security Agencies from Abuja are still on ground in that axis, but the forest is huge. We are combing the area to rescue the victims,” he said.
When contacted, the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the command was still verifying facts and would provide an official update later. As of the time of filing this report, neither the state government nor the police command had issued a formal statement.
The attack has triggered renewed fears in communities across Isapa, Eruku and nearby villages. Local vigilante groups have increased night patrols, while several religious centres have suspended evening activities to prevent further attacks.
With three major abductions recorded in less than 30 days, residents say they now live in constant dread, as bandits continue to exploit the difficult terrain and slow security response to carry out their operations.
