Residents of Babanla and neighbouring communities in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State that came under bandits’ attacks at the weekend, have fled. The attacks left five persons, including a police officer, dead. The attackers, who some reports said are members of the Mahmuda terrorists’ group, were also said to have attacked the Divisional Police Headquarters at Babanla and carted away weapons. The assailants, according to locals who spoke yesterday, also abducted an unspecified number of people. The Mahmuda group, a faction of the Boko Haram assailants, had been hibernating in the forested areas of Kwara State. It was gathered that the latest incident had forced over 3,000 residents to flee the community. The bandits were also said to have invaded the main market in the community, fired shots, looted several shops and went away with foodstuffs and other items. Residents told that the attackers were over 200 in number and that they stormed the community on bikes from two different routes, engaging in a two-hour shooting. Sources said the victims included a Miyetti Allah security commander, his lieutenant, two civilians and a police officer who was identified as Adejumo Wasiu. Eyewitnesses said some officers at the Divisional Police Headquarters in the community managed to escape the attack through the fence. Residents called on the authorities to come to the aid of their community. Mrs AbdulRahman, a resident of Babanla, told our that the “coordinated” attacked had forced residents of 15 neighbouring communities within the local government area to flee. She mentioned the affected communities as including Budo Idowu, Ganmu, Eka, Upper Eka, Lower Eka, Oloruntele, Baba Sango, Ayetoro, Ibudo Olosun, Apata Olosun, Kudagbari, among others. “The only place we thought was safe, which is Babanla, has now been attacked. We will relocate tomorrow (today) because nobody wants to die. The government should come to our aid,” she said. Another resident, Saad Fatimah, said: “This is getting too much and the government should come to our aid. We cannot sleep any longer. We need justice. Those bandits entered this town and destroyed many things, killing many people in the process. They stole many things. The Chief Iman of the community, Lawal Sarafadeen, who also spoke to our correspondent yesterday, said attacks started last year, but escalated after the last Sallah. “They come every day and kidnap people, collecting ransom in the process.