Pregnant woman, children, others feared kidnapped in fresh Kwara state attack

Bandits on Monday evening abducted eleven residents of Isapa, a neighbouring community in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara, including a pregnant woman, barely one week after 38 worshippers of the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, Eruku, were abducted and later released.

Penpushing reports that the wave of terror occurred around 6pm as about 30 bandits stormed the community and shooting sporadically forcing residents to flee in different direction for safety.

The attack on the quiet agrarian settlement with a large herd of cattle, saw the bandits moving through several parts of the town, firing shots into homes, while bullet holes were reportedly found in walls, windows and wooden doors, confirming the intensity of the gunfire.

Penpushing further reports that a community leader, who preferred anonymity, confirmed that 11 persons were abducted, with seven of them belonging to a single family, stating that the kidnapped victims include a pregnant woman, two nursing mothers and children.

The community leader listed the abductees as, Talatu Kabiru, six-year-old Magaji, Kande (5 years), 10-year-old Hadiza and Mariam, who is also 6 years old, while others are 5-year-old Saima, Habibat (housewife), Fatima Yusufu, 22-year-old pregnant woman identified as Sarah Sunday, Lami Fidelis and Haja Na Allah (nursing mother).

“This is the worst attack we have seen in recent times, Seven members of the same family were taken. People are terrified. We don’t even know what to expect next. People are now living in fear. This is too much. Eleven people just disappeared into the bush. We don’t know what tomorrow holds’, he said.

Penpushing also reports that in same vein, top security personnel under condition of anonymity confirmed the incident on Tuesday, explaining that operatives had already begun combing the forest linking Isapa, Eruku and other surrounding villages.

The security official added that eleven people were abducted from what the community had gathered, adding that security operatives are in the area  to ascertain the exact number and identify those responsible.

Penpushing reports that he stated that despite the presence of federal security reinforcements deployed after the Eruku church kidnapping, the vastness of the forest and the presence of multiple settlements make surveillance difficult.

“Security agencies from Abuja are still around that axis, but you know that forest is vast. There are many villages around there, and it’s hard to be everywhere at the same time. But we are combing the area to rescue the victims,” he said.

Penpushing further reports that Kwara Sate Police Command Public Relations Officer Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, when contacted said the command was still verifying details and would provide an update later.

Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report no official statement has been issued by the police or the Kwara state government.

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