Armed men have abducted members of the Iru Ekun Security Network in a Kwara community. The attack occurred on 26 October, one day after the network launched in Oyo State. Footage shared by Sahara Reporters showed distressed victims with bound hands and visible bruises. The victims included injured men and a shaken woman in colourful attire. The number abducted was not disclosed. The kidnappers have not been identified. No group has claimed responsibility. The police have not commented.
Vigilante networks have filled gaps left by underfunded police. In 2020, Amotekun launched in the southwest. In 2023, the Civilian JTF expanded in the northeast. These groups often face reprisals. In 2024, bandits killed several Amotekun operatives in Ondo. In 2025, gunmen attacked a vigilante base in Kaduna. The pattern is consistent: armed groups target volunteers to deter recruitment and punish communities. The new Iru Ekun network is the latest to face that risk.
The Iru Ekun Security Network launched in Oyo State on 25 October. Around 20,000 volunteers were mobilised. The group aims to support official security across Yorubaland, Kwara and Niger states. Traditional rulers backed the initiative. It promised to combat kidnapping and banditry. The abduction a day later exposed the danger. Volunteers are not trained soldiers. They carry local weapons. They lack armour or air support. They are targets.
The incident sparked online debate about ethnic tensions. Some questioned the network’s preparedness. Others linked the attack to opposition against Yoruba self-defence. The timing suggests a deliberate message: armed groups are not intimidated by the new force. The state has not responded. The volunteers’ families wait. The network must decide how to protect its members.
Winners: The abductors, who demonstrated reach. Groups opposed to vigilante expansion. Losers: The abducted volunteers and their families. The Iru Ekun network, whose credibility is tested. Communities expecting protection. The police, whose authority is bypassed. The traditional rulers who backed the initiative.
Bottom Line: A security network was attacked a day after launch. The volunteers are vulnerable. The kidnappers are sending a message. The state must step in. Vigilantes cannot replace police. But they need protection if they are to help.