Armed gunmen have kidnapped two senior officials of the Kwara State Local Government Service Commission along the Omu-Aran/Ilorin Expressway.

The victims include Elizabeth Arinde, Head of the Legal Department at Oke-Ero Local Government, and the Head of Personnel Management of the Commission, whose identity remains unconfirmed.

The abduction occurred on Friday evening, 25 April 2025, near Corner Eleyin on the expressway while the officials were returning to Ilorin, the state capital, for the weekend.

PUNCH Metro reported that the two administrators were among seven individuals taken hostage in the attack.

The incident, which occurred at about 5:45pm, involved five gunmen who ambushed the two private vehicles before leading the passengers into the bush.

The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, on Saturday.

In the statement titled "Security Update: Kidnap Incident in Isanlu Isin of Isin LGA,' Ejire-Adeyemi said,

"The Kwara State Police Command confirms a kidnap incident reported at about 5:45 p.m. on Friday, 25th April 2025, at Eleyin village via Isanlu-Isin. It was reported that about five armed men blocked the highway, stopping two private vehicles, forcefully taking all occupants to an unknown location.

"Following the report, the command, in collaboration with the military and vigilantes, launched a swift operation, leading to the successful rescue of two victims, Ganiyu Ajayi and Kolawole Adeyemi.

"Efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining five victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

"The command has intensified security measures across the area, including aggressive bush combing, strategic patrols, and intelligence-driven operations to prevent further occurrences.

"We assure the public that robust strategies are in place to tackle criminal activities and safeguard lives and property across the state.

"Residents are urged to remain calm, vigilant, and supportive by providing timely and credible information to security agencies. Further updates will be provided as necessary."

Following the incident, the Ilorin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association issued a kidnapping alert regarding Arinde on Saturday evening.

In a public notice signed by the Chairman of the NBA, Ilorin Branch, SMH Kosemani, the association said, "We are deeply concerned to inform you that Barrister Elizabeth Arinde, Head of the Legal Department at Oke Ero Local Government in Kwara State, has been kidnapped.

"According to reports, she was abducted alongside the DPM of the Local Government on Friday, April 25, 2025, while travelling from Oke Ero LGA to Ilorin."

Recall, on April 19, gunmen ambushed a Toyota Sienna passenger vehicle along the Obbo-Aiyegunle/Osi road in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting seven passengers travelling from Abuja to Offa, in the state.

The suspected kidnappers, however, spared three children who were travelling with their abducted parents.

It was gathered that the eldest of the spared children reported the incident to the management of the transport company, Olumoh Express, Offa, where the victims had boarded the vehicle.

According to PPRO Ejire-Adeyemi, the abducted parents had not yet been rescued as of the time of this report.