Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, has assured residents of Babanla community, in Ifelodun Local Government Area, that security will be tightened following a violent attack by armed criminals recently.
The attack claimed five lives, including that of a police officer, Inspector Adejumo Wasiu.
The assailants, said to be in their hundreds and riding on motorcycles, stormed the community, firing indiscriminately, attacking the Divisional Police Headquarters, and raiding the local market. They were repelled through the combined efforts of the police, Nigerian Army, vigilantes, and local hunters.
On Saturday, CP Ojo visited Babanla with the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Kwara State, for an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation. The team met with the traditional ruler, Oba Yusuf Aliyu Alabi Arojojoye II, to discuss measures aimed at restoring and sustaining peace.
During the visit, the delegation toured critical areas, including the market, the police station, and surrounding neighbourhoods.
CP Ojo directed the deployment of specialised tracking teams, intensified armed patrols, and continuous intelligence gathering. The DSS chief also pledged ongoing intelligence support to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“We will not relent in our duty to protect lives and property. Those behind this attack will have no hiding place,” CP Ojo said.
The police urged residents to remain calm, vigilant, and willing to share credible information that could aid in ongoing investigations.