. ECWA churches express concern over deteriorating security situation
Hameed Shittu of Ilorin
About five suspected robbers reportedly invaded Afun village in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State and abducted a mother and her two children.
The incident is believed to have happened on Wednesday night, when people in the town were said to be getting ready for bed.
This comes as churches of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) in Kwara State have expressed deep concern over reported cases of insecurity, particularly in Kwara South Senatorial District.
It turned out that the kidnapped woman happened to be the wife of the driver’s son of the traditional ruler of Oroago called Baba Segun.
In their escape plan, the perpetrators brought together the victim’s mother-in-law, also known as Mama Segun.
Witnesses said the attackers arrived at the village at 9 p.m. and fired sporadically to scare off the “uninvited guests.”
But the operation, which lasted just 40 minutes, prompted villagers to evacuate en masse on Thursday.
Sensing this, another source, a member of a local vigilance group, told reporters that Oroago’s traditional rulers had ruled that no one should leave because of this.
According to a local security source, who declined to be named, the monarch asked: “If everyone leaves now, who will I rule?”
To this effect, the traditional ruler is said to have instructed military officials in Oroago not to allow the passage of vehicles carrying people from Ahun and Oroago.
The Ilorin-based family of Baba Segun commended the brave community vigilance during the encounter.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) around 9pm, I received a call from my family in Ahun, saying that our area was under siege by bandits.The first thing I asked was about the well-being of my elderly mother in the village.”
One craftsman (name withheld) recalled: “The attackers arrived in our community at night when we least expected them, opened fire, and left us all running for safety.
“We thank God that our vigilantes stood firm. Had it not been for their courage, the bandits would have wreaked more havoc,” he said.
Meanwhile, officials of Ifelodun Local Government Department of Security Services (DSS) yesterday invited members of the local vigilance team and other stakeholders to a day-long meeting, the outcome of which was unknown at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, churches of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) in Kwara State have expressed deep concern over reported instances of insecurity in the state, particularly in Kwara South Senatorial District.
The church said this ugly development is affecting the social welfare of Christians in the state.
In a church statement signed by the state chairman and secretary, Pastor Samuel Adewumi and Joseph Agboluahe, respectively, after the recent meeting of the ECWA Joint District Church Council (DCC) Forum comprising Ilorin DCC, Omuaran DCC, Igbaya DCC, Oloago DCC and Fatetanke DCC, the people said the security situation in the state “has reached an alarming level and threatens the lives, livelihoods and liberty of our members and the general public.”
The ECWA Forum called on both the Federal and State Governments and all relevant security agencies to urgently confront this challenge and take decisive action to restore peace and security in the affected areas.
“Protection of life and property remains a fundamental responsibility of government, and our communities must not be left vulnerable to continued attacks.”
“While the meeting was in progress, the Forum received disturbing news of another attack in Oyatedo where ECWA member Mr. Omoniyi Azise was brutally murdered and his wife and four others abducted by suspected kidnappers.
“This tragic incident adds to the list of frequent attacks in communities around Oroago, Babanla and other surrounding areas.
“The report also indicates that two elderly men, Dada and Ishola of Ahun, were among those initially kidnapped. However, they were later released after the kidnappers discovered they were elderly, according to testimony given by one of the elderly victims.
“The Forum expressed great concern that such incidents are now commonplace in many communities in the region.
“It is particularly worrying that this time of year is cashew harvesting season, which is the main source of livelihood for many villagers. Unfortunately, many farmers no longer have access to their farms due to fear of attacks, leaving residents feeling helpless and at the mercy of criminals.”
“The Forum further reported with great sadness that this persistent security situation has forced the closure of several ECWA local churches in the affected communities. Many pastors are now without congregations and members and residents have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety.”
“Economic activity has been severely disrupted, pushing many families, church and non-church members, into extreme hardship and poverty.
“The Forum lamented that what was once abnormal has now sadly become normal, as lives are threatened and lost on a daily basis while communities continue to live in fear and insecurity.
“In light of these developments, the ECWA Joint DCC Forum in Kwara State calls on the Federal Government, Kwara State Government and all relevant security agencies to urgently confront this challenge and take decisive action to restore peace and security in the affected areas.”
“Protection of life and property remains a fundamental responsibility of governments, and our communities must not be left vulnerable to continued attacks.
“We, therefore, call on the authorities to deploy adequate security personnel, intensify intelligence gathering and take proactive steps to curb the increasing number of kidnappings, murders and other criminal activities in Kwara South and neighboring communities.
“As a spiritual organization committed to peace and national development, the Church pledges its continued support through prayer, moral guidance and spiritual zeal to leaders and security agencies addressing these challenges.
“ECWA Church in Kwara State remains committed to promoting peace, unity and well-being in our community and prays that God will grant wisdom and strength to those entrusted with the responsibility of protecting our land.”
