From Abdul Salaudeen, Ilorin
Kwara State Police Commissioner, Adekimi Ojo, and the state Director of the Department of State Security, DSS, on Saturday conducted a joint security assessment tour of Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area where five people were killed by armed bandits on Friday.
Armed bandits invaded the community in their hundreds shooting sporadically and killed five persons, including a police officer, Adejumo Wasiu.
They also attacked the Divisional Police Headquarters and the market in the community, according to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in Ilorin on Saturday.
”On August 8, armed criminals 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 five people, including a police officer, Adejumo Wasiu. A swift and coordinated response by police operatives, Nigeria Army personnel, vigilantes and hunters repelled the attack, restored order and initiated a full-scale manhunt for the perpetrators.
”Today, the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, accompanied by the director of the DSS 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, 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,” the statement said.
In the same vein, the DSS pledged continuous intelligence support to apprehend all those involved in the attack.
The command reiterated its unwavering commitment, in synergy with sister security agencies, to safeguard lives and property in all parts of Kwara State and urged residents to remain calm, vigilant and cooperative with security agencies by providing credible information.
