Ilorin, Kwara State – In a sharp escalation, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq summoned his top security brass this Friday for a high-stakes Security Council meeting. The agenda: how to uproot organised kidnapping gangs terrorising Kwara — especially in the wake of a bloody church attack in Eruku.
The meeting came on the heels of the Tuesday night ambush on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area. Eyewitnesses say heavily armed gunmen stormed mid-service, opening fire and herding dozens of worshippers into the bush. Reports vary on casualties: The Sun claims three killed. Meanwhile, Reuters and Associated Press put the death toll at two.
What Went Down in the War Room
At the press briefing, CP Ojo Adekimi laid it bare: this wasn’t business as usual. The security meeting, he said, “harvested insights from field intelligence” gathered after the Eruku attack — including efforts to track the assailants and rescue the abducted.
- Air interdictions have already disrupted suspected hideouts, especially in Ifelodun, and the council is calling for more aerial pressure.
- In a big move, four tactical teams have been deployed to Kwara:
- Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)
- Intelligence Response Team
- Special Tactical Squad
- Special Intervention Squad
This comes on the back of President Bola Tinubu’s directive and direction from IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
- Arrests have already been reported: food and fuel suppliers allegedly linked to the kidnappers, and even a man from Makurdi who confessed to arming the gang.
Schools, Patrols & Fear
The council praised the state’s “strategic security decision” regarding schools, but stressed that measures could be relaxed or tightened depending on fresh intelligence.
- Joint patrols between the military, police, and DSS will now crisscross the state — especially hotspots — as Yuletide approaches.
- Authorities warned residents to curb night-time farming and social activities that leave them exposed. Suspicious movements, they stressed, must be reported immediately — to security agencies, traditional rulers, everyone.
The Danger of Viral Panic
In a blunt moment, the council slammed social media for undermining the fight against violent gangs. According to Adekimi, ransom demands and real-time tactical details are being shared widely, making people less safe. The message: freedom of expression matters — but not when it becomes a kill switch for security.
Ransom Talk & Grief
No news conference would be complete without the darkest parts of the story. According to multiple media reports, the attackers are demanding ₦100 million per kidnapped worshipper. Between 30 and 35 people were reportedly taken during the attack. Families say the kidnappers are already calling, using the victims’ phones to make their demands.
The Security Council paused for a minute of silence during the meeting to honor the victims. Adekimi publicly expressed solidarity with the bereaved and the broader Eruku community.
Twin Attacks: The Broader Picture
If you thought Eruku was an isolated nightmare, think again. Just 24 hours after the church attack, armed men struck again — this time in Bokungi Village, Edu LGA. They ambushed rice farmers at dusk, killed two during the raid, and took four others hostage.
Residents say this isn’t random; it’s coordinated. They warn that insecurity in the farming areas is spiraling, especially during harvest — when they’re most vulnerable.
The Stakes Are High
- Tactical teams have landed, but the kidnappers are still up for ransom in the hundreds of millions.
- Schools remain closed in some districts, and residents are being told to stay off farms at night.
- Social media scrutiny over security matters? It’s both a tool and a threat.
- The government says it’s firing back, but people in Eruku and Bokungi are watching anxiously: will this crackdown translate into real safety — or is it just another round of promises?
Kwara’s leadership has made its play. But with ransom-hungry gangs, terrifying live-streamed attacks, and rural communities under siege, the next move has to count.