Kwara: Nine Abducted Residents Freed, Police Bust Gang Looting Deserted Areas

Nine individuals from Idi-Iya community, situated near Yaru in Kwara State's Ifelodun Local Government Area, who were seized by kidnappers in April, have now regained their liberty. This development follows the alleged payment of a substantial ransom. Concurrently, security operatives have successfully apprehended four suspected criminals accused of pilfering property and livestock from villages left vacant due to banditry.

SaharaReporters learned that the victims, who were abducted on April 23, 2026, were released on Tuesday evening after enduring several weeks in captivity. A security source, confirming the incident to SaharaReporters, stated that all nine abductees returned alive, dispelling earlier reports and speculations that two of them might have perished during their confinement.

“The nine abductees of Idi-Iya near Yaru, who were kidnapped on April 23, 2026, regained their freedom today after the alleged payment of a substantial ransom,” the source affirmed. They added, “All were confirmed alive, contrary to earlier speculations that two of the abductees had died in captivity.”

The same source further revealed that security personnel within Ifelodun Local Government Area recently arrested a group suspected of exploiting communities deserted by residents fleeing persistent bandit attacks across the region. Four members of this alleged gang were apprehended and subsequently paraded through Igbaja Market and other main streets in the town earlier on Tuesday.

During the parade, the suspects reportedly confessed to their crimes and appealed for forgiveness from the community. “The gang members are currently believed to be in custody at the Igbaja Police Station pending further investigation,” the source disclosed.

Investigations by security operatives indicated that the suspects were arrested during the early hours of Monday in Ekudaji, near Agbeku, while in the process of loading stolen livestock and household items. The recovered items reportedly included goats, sheep, poultry, and various household belongings, allegedly taken from homes abandoned by residents displaced by bandit activities. Preliminary findings suggest that the group had been systematically targeting deserted communities throughout Ifelodun Local Government Area, stealing domestic animals and looting valuables left behind by those who fled.

Security sources also hinted that one of the arrested suspects is reportedly linked to a prior foiled kidnapping attempt in Oro Ago and remains under active police scrutiny.

Many communities across Ifelodun Local Government Area have been largely deserted in recent months, as inhabitants continue to escape recurrent attacks and threats from armed bandits operating in parts of the area. This widespread displacement has rendered numerous homes, farms, and other sources of livelihood susceptible to criminal exploitation.

Local stakeholders have applauded the prompt response of security operatives, characterizing the arrests as a crucial step towards curbing criminal activities in the affected areas. However, they advocated for sustained security deployments and enhanced surveillance across vulnerable communities to prevent further exploitation of abandoned settlements and facilitate the safe return of displaced residents. Stakeholders also cautioned that without a stronger and more permanent security presence, deserted communities would remain vulnerable to continued looting, theft of domestic animals, and property destruction, similar to the incidents uncovered in Ekudaji.