No fewer than 3,000 residents from 15 communities in Babanla town, within Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, have fled their homes following a spate of relentless attacks by suspected kidnappers and bandits over the weekend.

The Federal Government has responded by deploying five fighter jets to the region, while the police have mobilised joint security personnel in a bid to safeguard lives and property.

Investigations by THISDAY revealed that the affected communities now largely deserted include Eka, Upper Eka, Lower Eka, Kudagbari, Gbanmu, Oloruntele, Baba Sango, Ibudo Idowu, Ibudo Olosun, Ayetoro, and Apata Olosun.

It was gathered that the attacks have persisted for the past two months, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.

Sources within Babanla told journalists over the weekend that the latest assault occurred last Friday, when over 200 armed bandits stormed the main town, killing at least five people including a police officer and looting residents' property before fleeing.

The ongoing violence has forced many to relocate to safer areas, severely disrupting daily life and stalling socio-economic activities in the region.

Locals have called for sustained military presence and improved intelligence gathering to prevent further bloodshed.

Speaking with newsmen over the weekend on the incident, the traditional ruler of Babanla town, His Royal Highness, Oba Alliu Alabi Yusuf Adegboyega said that, "the bandits and kidnappers have been terrorising us here in Babanla communities for past two or more months now.

"And the situation was so serious that several residents of 15 communities that surrounded Babanla town have deserted the communities for fear of being attacked by the bandits".

He said that, the last attack happened last Friday where over 200 bandits in motorbikes invaded the main town of Babanla and attacked police station and shops of the residents of the town.

During the attack, five people were killed including a police man and also burnt the police station at Babanla".

Oba Adegboyega who lauded the quick response from the state government and security agencies in the state for quenching the attack said that, the response of the affected stakeholders has restored normalcy to the town.

He also said that, deployment of soldiers, vigilantes, policemen and war fighter jets have gone a long way of restoring peace to the town.

Oba Adegboyega however called for the establishment of military barracks in the area so as to bring permanent solution to the influx of suspected kidnappers and bandits to the town and other adjoining towns and villages .

Meanwhile, the state police command at the weekend has reinforced more security to the Babanla town in Ifelodun local government council area of the state.

The state police commissioner, Mr. Adekimi Ojo stated this in Ilorin in a statement after the joint on site assessment with the state Director of State Security Service(DSS) to the town.

The statement which was signed by the police command Public Relations Officer(PPRO) Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi said, "?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 5 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. ?

"Today, the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, CP Adekimi Ojo, accompanied by the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) Kwara State Command, paid an on-the-spot assessment visit to Babanla to evaluate the security situation.

"They met with His Royal Highness, Oba Yusuf Aliyu Alabi Arojojoye II, the traditional ruler of Babanla. They held high-level discussions aimed at consolidating peace and strengthening inter-agency and community-security collaboration. ?

?"The joint security delegation toured key locations in the community including the market, the Divisional Police Headquarters, and surrounding areas to ensure that stability has been fully restored.

"The Commissioner of Police ordered sustained armed patrols, continuous intelligence gathering, and the deployment of specialised tracking teams.

"At the same time, the DSS pledged continuous intelligence support to apprehend all those involved in the attack.

?"The Command reiterates its unwavering commitment, in synergy with sister security agencies, to safeguarding lives and property in all parts of Kwara State. Residents are urged to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative with security agencies by providing credible information".