At least 11 residents of Isapa, a community near Eruku in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have been kidnapped in a fresh attack by suspected bandits.
The abduction occurred barely 24 hours after 18 worshippers, previously kidnapped during a church service in Eruku, were released.
The latest attack reportedly took place around 6:00 p.m. on Monday, when an estimated 20 to 30 armed men stormed the area, firing sporadically and causing residents to flee for safety. An elderly woman was hit by a stray bullet during the incident.
A community leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the abduction, saying, “Eleven people were kidnapped, seven of them from the same household. The victims include a pregnant woman, two nursing mothers, and several young children.”
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The kidnapped individuals were identified as Talatu Kabiru, 20; Magaji, 6; Kande, 5; Hadiza, 10; Mariam, 6; Saima, 5; housewives Habibat and Fatima Yusufu; a pregnant woman, Sarah Sunday, 22; and nursing mothers Lami Fidelis, 23, and Haja Na Allah.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen moved through different parts of the town, leaving bullet holes in walls and doors. Following their escape with the captives, security personnel later recovered expended AK-47 shells at multiple locations in the community.
The attack has heightened tension across Isapa and nearby settlements, prompting security agencies and local vigilante groups to intensify efforts to track the kidnappers and secure the release of the victims.
Nigeria is currently grappling with one of its most severe security crises in recent history, leading to mass school closures, particularly in the northern regions of the country.
