Suspected bandits have abducted four members of the same family in Babanla community, located in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The victims were reportedly on their farm around 5 a.m. on Wednesday when the attackers struck.
The Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government, Femi Yusuf, confirmed the development during a telephone conversation with our correspondent.
“How and why should any sane person go to a farm at 5 a.m.? We all know the situation on the ground; no one needs to be told to know when it is safe to go about.”
According to a community source, the armed assailants stormed a farmland on the outskirts of Babanla without warning, shooting sporadically into the air before taking members of the family captive.
The source disclosed that five individuals were initially rounded up, but an elderly man was later set free.
“They then took away four other members of the family to an unknown destination,” he said.
A female resident of the community, who requested anonymity, also confirmed the abduction.
“It is true that they abducted four family members. They were kidnapped on their farmland this morning,” she said.
“They came suddenly and surrounded them. The elderly man was later freed, but four others were taken away by the bandits,” she added.
As of the time this report was filed, authorities had not officially released the identities of the victims.
The Kwara State Police Command had also not issued a formal statement on the incident.
In the wake of the attack, residents have appealed to the government and security agencies to strengthen patrols and deploy more personnel to vulnerable rural areas to curb further incidents and facilitate the victims’ rescue.
Babanla and neighbouring communities within the local government area have faced repeated security threats, with locals decrying the limited presence of security operatives, particularly in farming settlements.
