At least four suspected bandits have been arrested by local vigilantes and hunters following an attempted attack on Eruku, a community in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State that borders Kogi State.

According to DAILY POST, the suspects were apprehended during a search and rescue operation launched shortly after the assault, with several cattle stolen from the community's monarch and Fulani herdsmen successfully recovered.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday when armed attackers invaded Eruku, triggering a 45-minute gun battle with local vigilantes. Though the assailants set ablaze the vigilantes' operational van near Baba Gbadebo's apartment in Okerepe, all defenders escaped unharmed and swiftly pursued the attackers into nearby forests.

The pursuit led to the arrest of the four suspects and the recovery of looted livestock, marking a significant victory for the grassroots security network.

In the aftermath, the Eruku community has called for urgent intervention from the state government and reinforced security measures to prevent future attacks.

"This is insecurity waging war against Eruku," a community source stated.

"If bandits can attempt to invade Eruku in broad daylight, cart away the Owa of Eruku's cow, and also burn a vigilante's patrol van, then who knows what might happen at midnight when residents would be sleeping?"

Reacting, the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in an interview with DAILY POST on Monday, confirmed the development.

She, however, said details were yet to reach her office, though some suspected bandits had been arrested and some rustled cattle recovered, but she could not give exact numbers.