Bandits Strike Adanla Community In Kwara, Abduct Several Residents

Suspected bandits on Friday evening reportedly invaded Adanla, a suburb of Igbaja in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, and abducted no fewer than seven persons, residents said.

The attack occurred around 7 pm on December 26, 2025, plunging the otherwise peaceful agrarian community into fear and panic.

A community leader and Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, Elder Olaitan Oyin‑Zubair, confirmed the incident to Punch on Saturday.

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

According to him, the armed assailants stormed Adanla in large numbers, firing indiscriminately and moving from house to house, forcing residents into submission.

He said, “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 that soldiers later arrived in the community in two operational trucks to support local security operatives.

“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 said.

Residents told Punch that several people sustained injuries while trying to escape. Many families fled their homes, taking refuge in nearby bushes and neighbouring communities to avoid further attacks.

As of Saturday morning, efforts to obtain official confirmation from the police were ongoing.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire‑Adeyemi, said she was yet to receive a detailed briefing on the attack.

“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.