The Kwara State Police Command has intensified security operations in Babanla, Ifelodun Local Government Area, after a weekend attack by suspected bandits which lead to the death of five persons, including a senior police officer.
Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed the incident during a security assessment of the community on Sunday, in company with the State Director of the Department of State Services, DSS.
According to Ojo, the attack occurred on August 8, 2025, when armed assailants, reportedly in their hundreds and riding motorcycles, stormed Babanla. They targeted the Divisional Police Headquarters and the local market, firing indiscriminately.
The raid resulted in the death of Assistant Superintendent of Police Adejumo Wasiu and four civilians.
Ojo noted that swift intervention by a combined force of police operatives, Nigerian Army personnel, vigilantes, and local hunters helped repel the attackers, restore order, and initiate a large-scale manhunt for those responsible.
The joint security team also inspected strategic locations, including the police station, the market, and the palace of the traditional ruler, Oba Yusuf Aliyu Alabi Arojojoye II, to assess the situation and reassure residents.
Oba Arojojoye commended the prompt response of security agencies and vowed to collaborate with community leaders to discourage displacement, stressing the community’s determination to remain united and resilient.
In a statement from Ilorin, Police Public Relations Officer SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi said the Commissioner of Police had ordered sustained armed patrols, continuous intelligence gathering, and the deployment of specialised tracking teams to monitor the area and track down the attackers.
She added that the DSS had committed to providing continuous intelligence support until all suspects are apprehended.
