Suspected terrorists on Thursday evening stormed Yaru community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State in a failed attempt to abduct the Oniyaru of Yaru, leaving two residents injured before they were repelled by security operatives and local defenders.
The attack, which has heightened fear among residents, was foiled by a combined team of local hunters, vigilantes and military personnel who engaged the assailants in a gun battle, forcing them to flee without capturing the traditional ruler.
Security sources said the heavily armed attackers invaded the community with the apparent objective of kidnapping the monarch but met stiff resistance.
“The terrorists were repelled. Only two residents sustained injuries,” a security source said.
The source added that the failed operation has left the community on edge.
“The whole community is in panic. We learnt they came for the Oniyaru of Yaru, but they failed,” the source said.
According to the source, the attackers abandoned their mission after encountering fierce resistance from local security volunteers and soldiers deployed to the area.
“Hunters, vigilantes and soldiers repelled them,” the source added.
The attempted abduction came 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 victims were abducted in Gaa Ogele, located between Igbaja and Yaru.
“Two days ago, there was a similar incident at Gaa Ogele. Three persons were kidnapped,” the source disclosed.
The source, however, expressed concern over what was described as the unusual conduct of the victims’ families after the kidnapping, alleging that they declined to cooperate with security personnel investigating the incident.
“When hunters, Forest Guards and AKS personnel visited the community the following morning, the families refused to cooperate. Instead, they chose to remain silent about the incident,” the source said.
The back-to-back attacks have heightened anxiety across Yaru, Gaa Ogele and neighbouring communities, with residents expressing growing fears over the increasing activities of terrorist groups operating in the area.
There was no immediate official statement from security authorities on Thursday night’s attempted abduction at the time of filing this report.