Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Suspected bandits on Thursday evening invaded the Yaru community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State in a failed attempt to abduct the traditional ruler, the Oniyaru of Yaru, leaving two residents injured and throwing the community into panic. Security sources said the heavily armed assailants stormed the community with the apparent intention of kidnapping the monarch but were successfully repelled by a combined team of local hunters, vigilantes and military personnel.
According to one of the security sources, the attackers failed to achieve their mission despite the surprise invasion. "The bandits were repelled. Only two injuries were suffered by residents," the source said. The source added that fear has since gripped the entire community following the attack. "The whole community is in a panicking mood. We learned they came for the Oniyaru of Yaru, but they failed," the source said. The source further disclosed that the attackers were forced to retreat after fierce resistance from local security volunteers and soldiers deployed to the area. "Hunters, vigilantes and soldiers repelled them," the source added.
The failed abduction comes barely two days after another security breach in nearby Gaa Ogele community, where three persons were reportedly kidnapped, raising fresh concerns over the worsening security situation in parts of Ifelodun Local Government Area. A source familiar with the earlier incident said the kidnappings occurred in Gaa Ogele, a community located between Igbaja and Yaru. "Two days ago, there was a similar incident at Gaa Ogele. Three persons were kidnapped," the source said. The source, however, expressed concern over suspicious circumstances surrounding the aftermath of the kidnapping, stating that the victims' families were unwilling to cooperate with security operatives investigating the incident. "But something is suspicious about them. When hunters, Forest Guards and AKS visited in the morning, the families refused to cooperate. Rather, they preferred to be silent about it," the source added.
The back-to-back attacks have heightened anxiety among residents of Yaru, Gaa Ogele communities and across Ifelodun, with many expressing fears over the growing activities of suspected bandits operating across the area. Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on both incidents as of the time of filing this report. The attempted abduction of the Oniyaru of Yaru is part of a disturbing pattern of violence targeting traditional institutions in Kwara State. According to recent reports, no fewer than 20 traditional rulers in Kwara South, who fled their thrones months ago over attacks by terrorists, have engaged the services of Sunday Igboho's 'Iru Ekun' foot soldiers to flush out terrorists, bandits and other hoodlums. Over 30 Kwara kings have fled their palaces due to a wave of targeted kidnappings, with at least 11 traditional rulers abducted or killed in recent years.
For the people of Yaru and surrounding communities, Thursday's attack is a stark reminder that no one is safe, not even the traditional custodians of their heritage. As one resident put it, "If the bandits can come for the king, who is safe?" The question now is whether the government will finally take decisive action to end the cycle of violence that has turned Kwara's rural communities into a theatre of terror.
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