Two teenage girls were abducted following a bandit attack on the Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The assailants, armed and riding motorcycles, stormed the community around 8:30 PM, firing indiscriminately and causing widespread panic among residents.

The victims, identified as Aisha Yahaya and Mariam Yusuf, aged between 16 and 17, were taken during the violent raid.

Local sources reported that the attackers also targeted the palace of the community's traditional ruler, attempting to kidnap his wife, who narrowly escaped.

The incident has since thrown the community into fear and uncertainty, as the victims remain missing as of the time of filing this report.

Residents said the attackers made a second attempt on Tuesday but were repelled by local security operatives, who engaged them in a gun battle until Wednesday morning.

Efforts to get a response from the police spokesperson in the state, Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to her phone were not returned.

However, the Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area, Haji Femi Yusuf, confirmed the incident in a phone interview.

He said security had been stepped up in the area, leading to the successful repelling of the second attack.

"As part of our intervention, we have commenced the distribution of 20 motorcycles to both government security agencies and our local security team to enhance mobility and ensure rapid response.

"Our local security outfit is also working hand-in-hand with conventional security agencies to bring these criminal elements to justice, and we are already seeing encouraging results," he said.