Few days after the intelligence -led rescue of pupils and teachers kidnapped by bandits in Oriire, Oyo State, another security team comprising operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, and forest guards, on Thursday, rescued two kidnapped victims in Kwara State.
Rescued in a forest between Oba Isin/Owa Onire in Isin and Ifelodun Local Government Areas of the state, was 16-year-old Fatima Azeez and her five-year-old brother, Ibrahim.
Sources close to the Kwara State Government disclosed that the security team eliminated two armed bandits while others escaped with severe injuries as more rescue operations were reportedly ongoing.
Recovered from the kidnappers were several items which included one AK-47 rifle; a single barrel gun, and one fully-loaded magazine. Also recovered were nine empty magazines, mini-solar charger, and food items.
Thursday’s rescue operation is connected to the multi-agency counter-terrorism and anti-kidnapping efforts of the government, the source declared.
Sign of relief in Kwara SouthÂ
Kwara South, long regarded as one of the more peaceful pockets of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has witnessed massive wave of abductions that has turned its farms, highways and places of worship into hunting grounds for armed gangs.
Also Read: Uneasy calm in Kwara South after terrorists raid Babanla
Since April 2025, virtually no month has passed without a kidnapping across the district’s seven local government areas — Ekiti, Isin, Ifelodun, Irepodun, Oke-Ero, Offa and Oyun.
What began as sporadic highway ambushes has hardened into an entrenched criminal economy operating from forest corridors linking Isin, Ekiti and Ifelodun, with escape routes bleeding into Kogi and Ekiti States.
The turning point came on 18 November 2025, when terrorists stormed Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, in Eruku, killed three worshippers and dragged 38 people — including the pastor — into the bush, demanding ₦100 million per victim.
The raid drew national outrage and prompted the Senate to move toward classifying kidnapping as terrorism.
Monarchs, imams, government officials, Chinese miners, farmers, church vigil-goers and even POS operators have been seized. In April 2026, an Odo-Ore businessman’s family paid ₦31 million — only for the rescue party sent to collect him to be abducted too, with a fresh ₦200 million demand.
In May, 25 people were taken in twin attacks; by July, coordinated raids on Gaa-Alla, Gaa-Oke Abba and Famole left one dead and scores missing.
Senator Lola Ashiru, representing the district, said his district was “under siege,” citing roughly 142 abductions and 70 killings in twelve months. Schools have shut, night vigils suspended, and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has engaged the Army severally in crisis talks as Kwara South’s residents wait, and pray, for the forests to fall silent.
Crediblenewsng.com
