Gunmen have attacked Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing five people, including a police officer, Adejumo Wasiu.
The assault, which occurred on August 8, forced many residents to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighbouring communities. According to the Kwara State Police Command, the attackers, numbering in their hundreds and riding motorcycles, stormed the divisional police headquarters and raided the local market, firing sporadically.
A swift response from a joint security team — comprising the Nigerian Army, police, Department of State Services (DSS), local vigilantes, and hunters — repelled the assailants and restored order.
Kwara State Police Commissioner Adekimi Ojo and the DSS State Director later visited Babanla for an on-the-spot assessment. They met with the traditional ruler, Oba Yusuf Aliyu Alabi Arojojoye II, and discussed measures to strengthen security collaboration.
The police have ordered sustained patrols, continuous intelligence gathering, and the deployment of specialised tracking teams, while the DSS has pledged ongoing intelligence support to track down the perpetrators.
Residents have been urged to remain calm, vigilant, and to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information.
