Armed bandits on Wednesday evening attacked the Gaa Fulani community in Iye-Mero, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, abducting residents and carting away valuables in a raid that lasted between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on December 3, 2025.
According to residents, the attackers stormed homes and looted phones, ATM cards, cash, clothing, bags, shoes, jewellery and wristwatches before fleeing with several captives.
However, their escape was short-lived. They were intercepted by the Iye-Mero community security network, who were quickly reinforced by soldiers stationed in the area, leading to a prolonged gunfight across forest routes connecting Ekiti, Kwara and Kogi states.
Sources told Akelicious that the strong resistance forced the bandits to abandon the kidnapped victims.
“All the abducted persons were rescued alive. The bandits realised they had been overpowered and took to their heels,” one source confirmed.
The attack has renewed concerns about the community’s vulnerability due to its strategic location at the border between Eruku (Kwara State) and Egbe in Yagba West (Kogi State) an area long exploited by armed groups who use the porous forest network as escape routes.
