By Omowumi Omotosho
The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, has confirmed that five people, including a police officer, were killed when armed bandits raided Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
Ojo disclosed this on Saturday after carrying out a joint on-the-spot security assessment with the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS).
He identified the slain officer as Police Constable Adejumo Wasiu, adding that four civilians also lost their lives in the assault. The attackers, said to be in their hundreds, invaded the community while firing sporadically before targeting the Divisional Police Headquarters and the town’s market.
According to the police commissioner, “On 8th August 2025, armed criminals numbering in their hundreds, riding on motorcycles, invaded Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, attacked the Divisional Police Headquarters and raided the market.
“The assailants fired sporadically, killing five people, including a police officer, Adejumo Wasiu. A swift and coordinated response by Police operatives, Nigeria Army personnel, vigilantes, and local hunters repelled the attack, restored order, and initiated a full-scale manhunt for the perpetrators.”
The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, alongside the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), paid a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of Babanla, Oba Yusuf Aliyu Alabi Arojojoye II, where they held strategic talks focused on deepening peace efforts and boosting cooperation between security agencies and the community.
The security chiefs also inspected critical parts of the town, including the main market, the Divisional Police Headquarters, and nearby areas, to assess the situation and confirm that normalcy had been restored.
In a statement issued in Ilorin by the command’s spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the Police Commissioner directed the continuation of armed patrols, intensified intelligence operations, and the deployment of specialised tracking units to enhance security in the area.
“Similarly, the DSS pledged continuous intelligence support to apprehend all those involved in the attack,” the statement added.
The state police command reaffirmed its firm resolve, working hand-in-hand with other security agencies, to protect lives and property across Kwara. It appealed to residents to stay calm and alert while maintaining close cooperation with security operatives by sharing timely and reliable information.
