Fresh concerns over the growing insecurity in Kwara State have emerged after the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) raised the alarm following the killing of one of its members and the abduction of five others in the state.
The incident, which occurred in Oyatedo village in Irepodun Local Government Area, has once again highlighted the deepening security challenges facing communities across Kwara South Senatorial District.
According to church leaders, suspected kidnappers attacked the village on Wednesday, killing an ECWA member, Omoniyi Ajise, and abducting his wife alongside four other residents.
The attack came even as ECWA district leaders in the state were holding a security meeting in Omu-Aran to deliberate on the rising wave of kidnappings and violent attacks across several communities.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the church described the security situation in the area as alarming and called on authorities to urgently intervene before the crisis worsens further.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the Chairman of the ECWA Joint District Church Councils Forum in the state, Samuel Adewumi, and the Secretary, Joseph Agboluaje.
Church leaders said the latest attack is part of a troubling pattern of insecurity affecting several communities across the district.
Areas such as Oro-Ago, Babanla and Ahun village have reportedly experienced repeated incidents of kidnapping and violent attacks in recent months.
In one earlier incident, two elderly residents identified simply as Dada and Ishola were abducted in Ahun village but later released after their captors reportedly realised their advanced age.
Such incidents, the church leaders said, have become increasingly common, leaving residents in a state of fear and uncertainty.
According to them, what once appeared as isolated criminal acts has gradually evolved into a recurring threat affecting daily life in many rural communities.
Beyond the human tragedy, the security crisis is also taking a heavy toll on the local economy.
Church leaders warned that farmers across Kwara South are increasingly abandoning their farms for fear of attacks, particularly as the region enters the peak of the cashew harvesting season a major source of livelihood for many residents.
The disruption of farming activities could have far-reaching economic consequences for families who depend heavily on agricultural income.
Communities that once thrived on farming are now grappling with uncertainty, as residents weigh the risk of tending their crops against the possibility of falling victim to kidnappers.
The insecurity has also begun to affect religious life within the region.
According to the ECWA forum, several churches in affected communities have been forced to shut down as members and clergy flee their homes in search of safety.
The development has left some pastors without congregations, while entire communities have been displaced.
Church leaders lamented that the situation has disrupted not only spiritual life but also social and economic stability within the affected areas.
Many families, they said, have been pushed into hardship as a result of displacement and the collapse of normal economic activities.
Against this backdrop, the church leaders called on both the Nigeria Federal Government and the Kwara State Government to take urgent steps to address the security crisis.
They urged authorities to deploy more security personnel to vulnerable communities, strengthen intelligence gathering and adopt proactive strategies to curb kidnapping and other criminal activities across Kwara South and neighbouring areas.
According to the forum, the protection of lives and property remains the fundamental responsibility of government and must be treated with the urgency it deserves.
While pledging continued prayers and moral support for peace, the church encouraged members to remain law-abiding despite the challenges facing their communities.
Police Response
When contacted, the Kwara State Police Command said it was not aware of the specific incident because no formal report had been made to the authorities.
The command’s spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, however assured that the police were working to ensure security across the state.
She noted that the Inspector-General of Police recently visited Kwara and pledged to intensify efforts to combat banditry and criminal activities in the state.
According to her, some arrests have already been made in recent operations, and suspects will soon be charged in court after investigations are completed.
Despite these assurances, residents and community leaders continue to express concern about the rising wave of kidnappings and attacks in rural parts of the state.
Several communities located near forested areas and interstate routes linking Kwara with neighbouring Niger, Ekiti and Osun states have reported increasing activities of kidnappers and armed gangs.
