The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of five farmers in the Odo-Eku community of Isin Local Government Area by unidentified gunmen.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, leaving the local community in fear.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Superintendent of Police and Police Public Relations Officer, Ejire-Adeyemi Toun, provided details of the abduction. “Kwara Police Command is aware of a kidnap incident that occurred at about 0115 hours of 15/01/25 at the Odo-Eku Camp in Odo-Eku Community of Isin LGA of Kwara State, where five persons were kidnapped. Two males and three females have been moved to an unknown location,” the statement read.
She further assured the public of ongoing efforts to rescue the victims: “Immediate deployment has long taken place; the Police, alongside the Vigilante, are on a rescue mission. Further updates will be communicated as it unfolds.”
Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants stormed the community under the cover of darkness, targeting homes and whisking their victims away to an unknown location. Among the kidnapped individuals are a mother and her daughter, another visiting woman, and two men—all identified as Hausa farmers residing in the community.
Read also: Ondo PDP pulls out of LG elections, blames ODIEC
Elder Ogundeji, the Odofin of Odo-Eku, narrated the chilling details of the attack: “The gunmen broke into the homes of their victims overnight and abducted five people. The victims are Hausa farmers who live in Odo-Eku. Among them are a woman, her daughter, another woman who was visiting, and two men.”
He also shared that the police had visited the scene to assess the situation. “We showed them where it happened, and they assured us they would investigate and work to rescue the victims,” Ogundeji said.
In response to the incident, a combined vigilante group, including members from neighboring communities, has launched a search operation in the surrounding forests. “Since yesterday (Wednesday) morning, the vigilantes have been combing the forest in search of the abducted farmers,” Ogundeji added.
The incident has raised concerns about the increasing wave of insecurity in rural areas, especially as farming communities remain vulnerable to such attacks. Local authorities and residents hope the ongoing rescue efforts will lead to the safe return of the victims and a restoration of peace in the area.