Armed men kidnapped 11 residents of the Isapa community in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State on Monday
Gatekeepers News reports that witnesses reported that more than 20 armed bandits arrived with a large herd of cattle and began firing indiscriminately as they moved through the area. An elderly woman was said to have been struck by a stray bullet during the assault.
According to a community leader who spoke anonymously, the attackers took 11 people, seven of whom belong to one family. Those abducted include a pregnant woman, two nursing mothers, and several children.
The kidnapped victims have been identified as Talatu Kabiru (20), Magaji (6), Kande (5), Hadiza (10), Mariam (6), Saima (5), a housewife named Habibat, another housewife, Fatima Yusufu, who is pregnant, as well as Sarah Sunday (22), Lami Fidelis (23 and a nursing mother), and Haja Na Allah, also a nursing mother.
Residents said the gunmen roamed parts of the community, leaving walls and doors riddled with bullet holes. After the assailants left, spent AK-47 shells were found scattered across the area. Security agencies have not yet released an official response.
The incident occurred roughly two weeks after gunmen attacked the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, within the same local government area. That attack resulted in the kidnapping of 38 worshippers, while others were reported dead. The abducted church members have since regained their freedom.
Channels Television earlier reported that the Eruku attackers stormed the church during a meeting, opened fire immediately, and forced worshippers to flee in panic.
Three people were killed at the scene before the gunmen captured several others, including the pastor. They then retreated through bush paths linking Eruku to nearby communities, leaving residents shaken by the violence.
