Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Ilorin, Nigeria — At least four travellers were kidnapped in a brazen ambush by suspected bandits along the Isanlu–Isin–Omu Aran road in Kwara State early on Monday, heightening fears over the worsening security situation on major highways and rural routes across the region. The assault, which unfolded in the early hours of the morning, saw armed assailants stop motorists and seize their victims before withdrawing into nearby bushes with those abducted, according to eyewitness accounts.
The busy arterial route, which connects various communities in Kwara South with the state capital, Ilorin, has become increasingly perilous in recent months as criminal groups exploit the lack of sustained security presence to target commuters. Sources familiar with the incident said the attackers “operated freely” on the highway, forcing several vehicles to come to a halt and then pulling passengers from them.
At the time of reporting, no official statement had been issued by the Kwara State Police Command regarding the latest abductions, and the fate of the victims remains unclear. Local residents have expressed deep concern, urging security agencies to step up patrols and intensify efforts to rescue those taken and prevent further attacks.
The latest kidnapping adds to a disturbing pattern of insecurity that has plagued Kwara State throughout 2025 and into 2026. Over the past year, multiple communities and travellers have been subjected to armed raids, with victims abducted, properties destroyed, and lives lost. In some areas, residents have been forced to protest and block major highways in calls for government action against the rising tide of banditry and kidnappings.
Kwara has reported numerous violent incidents linked to armed groups in recent months, including attacks on vigilante units and ambushes that have left local defenders dead or missing. In Isanlu-Isin Local Government Area earlier last year, bandits reportedly killed vigilante members and torched their motorcycles during clashes, leaving communities weakened and vulnerable.
Security analysts say that the spread of banditry and kidnapping beyond Nigeria’s traditional northwestern hotspots into central states like Kwara reflects a worrying evolution of criminal networks, which exploit ungoverned spaces, poor road security and limited intelligence penetration. Residents between Ilorin and the southern areas of the state have also experienced school closures, protest actions and displacement due to fear of attacks in their communities.
In previous months, the Kwara State government responded to the deteriorating security climate by temporarily closing schools in multiple local governments — including Isin, Ifelodun, Irepodun, Ekiti and Oke Ero — where insecurity had escalated to levels deemed unsafe for educational activities.
As families of the latest abducted travellers await news of their loved ones, local leaders have renewed calls for enhanced security deployment, stronger intelligence-sharing with communities, and a coordinated response from federal and state authorities to dismantle the criminal networks behind the kidnappings. The pattern of repeated attacks along key transportation corridors has prompted urgent demands for immediate action to safeguard travellers and restore confidence in public safety on highways that are vital for commerce, travel and daily life.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments