Residents of Adanla community, a rural settlement on the outskirts of Igbaja town in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, located in north central Nigeria, were thrown into panic on Friday evening following a violent invasion by suspected armed bandits that reportedly led to the abduction of several villagers.
Okay News reports that the attack occurred at about 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 26, 2025, when gunmen stormed the agrarian community in large numbers, firing repeatedly into the air as they moved through residential areas and forced occupants of homes into submission.
A prominent community leader in Igbaja and the Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch Network, Elder Olaitan Oyin Zubair, confirmed the incident during an interview on Saturday. He explained that the assailants arrived suddenly and operated freely for a period, creating fear and confusion among residents.
“At about 7:30 p.m., we received a report from Adanla Irese, a suburb of Igbaja, that bandits had entered the community,” Oyin Zubair said.
According to him, local security structures immediately activated emergency response measures. Vigilantes and local hunters from Igbaja were mobilised to the affected area, while the Nigerian Army was formally alerted to the unfolding situation.
“We immediately swung into action by mobilising hunters and vigilantes from Igbaja to the area. We also alerted the Brigade Commander of the Twenty Two Armoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army, who directed his men around the axis to respond swiftly,” he added.
Oyin Zubair further disclosed that soldiers later arrived in two operational vehicles to reinforce local security efforts. However, the intervention came after the attackers had already inflicted damage.
“Unfortunately, before their arrival, the bandits had already abducted eight persons and wounded a woman. They were shooting indiscriminately to scare the locals,” he said.
Several residents, who spoke anonymously, said many people sustained injuries while attempting to flee the area, while families abandoned their homes and escaped into nearby bushes and neighbouring communities to avoid being captured.
As of Saturday morning, official confirmation from the Nigeria Police Force was still pending. When contacted, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, Superintendent of Police Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, stated that she had not yet received a full briefing on the incident.
“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 attack has renewed concerns over the growing insecurity affecting rural communities across Kwara State and other parts of Nigeria, particularly farming settlements that are often vulnerable due to limited security presence.
