Suspected armed bandits invaded Eggi Oyo-Ipo community in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State on Wednesday night, abducting a businessman and an Islamic cleric while demanding a combined ransom of N65 million from their families and community members.

The attack has heightened concerns over insecurity in parts of Kwara South, where rural communities have reported increasing incidents involving armed groups, including abductions, shootings and displacement of residents.

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Sources familiar with the incident said the attackers arrived in the community heavily armed and opened fire before taking the two victims away to an unknown location.

The abductors reportedly contacted community members and demanded N50 million for the release of the businessman and an additional N15 million for the Islamic cleric.

“They have reached out to the community to pay N50 million for the man they shot and N15 million for the Islamic cleric,” a source said.

The businessman, according to residents, operates a business centre in Buari but lives in Eggi Oyo-Ipo. Sources said he was traced to his residence before being taken away alongside the cleric, popularly referred to as Mallam.

“The man picked runs a business centre at Buari but lives in Eggi Oyo-Ipo. He was traced to Eggi Oyo-Ipo last night and was abducted alongside one Mallam,” another source said.

The incident has been reported to the Divisional Police Officer in Ajasse-Ipo, with security authorities expected to begin efforts aimed at locating the victims and securing their release.

The abduction comes shortly after another violent incident in Wande community, located in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state, where attackers reportedly killed one person, kidnapped another resident and injured several others.

A resident who spoke about the Wande attack described the severity of the assault, saying attackers physically harmed residents during the operation.

“They hit me on the head with the butt of their gun. Blood has been coming out from my head,” the resident said, adding that the injured victim was being taken to a hospital in Igbaja.

Residents have expressed growing anxiety over repeated attacks across communities in Kwara South, with some reportedly leaving their homes due to fears of further violence.

“Kwara South has become a hotspot for bandits, while many communities have been deserted,” a resident said.

A security source said the attackers behind the Wande incident were suspected to be members of a terrorist group that had earlier clashed with security operatives in Yaru town before moving towards surrounding communities.

According to the source, security forces had launched an operation in Yaru earlier on Wednesday, forcing the attackers to retreat before the later assault on Wande.

“It was obvious because they pushed them yesterday morning at Yaru again. They ran towards that end,” the security source said.

Authorities have not publicly confirmed the identities of the attackers or provided details on ongoing rescue operations.

The latest incident adds to broader concerns about the spread of armed criminal activity beyond traditionally affected areas in Nigeria’s north-west and north-central regions.

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Security analysts have repeatedly warned that isolated rural communities remain vulnerable due to limited security presence, difficult terrain and the ability of armed groups to move between neighbouring states.