The Kwara State Government on Wednesday moved to close all schools across four local government areas in the Kwara South Senatorial District following escalating insecurity, even as Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq visited the crisis-hit community of Eruku to commiserate with victims of a deadly bandit attack.
The decision to shut down schools in Isin, Irepodun, Ifelodun, and Ekiti Local Government Areas was immediately communicated by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kwara State Wing, following security concerns raised by the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development.
In a circular announcing the closure, NUT Chairman, Yusuf Agboola, stated, “Comrade chairmen, this is to inform you and through you, all schools in the above local governments of the instruction to close down all schools with immediate effect until further notice.”
Agboola explained the necessity of the immediate shutdown, saying, “This decision was occasioned by the security challenges ravaging the area and the efforts of the government to control the situation. Treat this information as important and with the urgency it deserves, as it emanated from the ministry.”
The decision to shut down schools in Isin, Irepodun, Ifelodun, and Ekiti Local Government Areas was immediately communicated by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kwara State Wing, following security concerns raised by the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development.
In a circular announcing the closure, NUT Chairman, Yusuf Agboola, stated, “Comrade chairmen, this is to inform you and through you, all schools in the above local governments of the instruction to close down all schools with immediate effect until further notice.”
Agboola explained the necessity of the immediate shutdown, saying, “This decision was occasioned by the security challenges ravaging the area and the efforts of the government to control the situation. Treat this information as important and with the urgency it deserves, as it emanated from the ministry.”
Governor Abdulrazaq, visiting Eruku in Ekiti LGA where bandits attacked a church on Tuesday night, killing three worshippers and abducting over 35 others, announced plans to significantly upgrade security infrastructure in the area.
The Governor disclosed that he had already engaged top security hierarchy to address the vacuum, stating, “We will speak with the GOC to see that we have a Forward Operating Base in Eruku to enhance security here and also talk to the Inspector General of Police about establishing a mobile squadron here.”
He acknowledged the gravity of the crisis, adding, “It is indeed unfortunate what happened yesterday despite all the effort we have been making. Our main purpose here is to commiserate with the people of the community. All the security agencies are on this. The President had to cancel his trip to the G-20 because of this incident and that of Kebbi State. So the President is aware and we are on top of the situation.”
For the residents of Eruku, the attack came during a thanksgiving service. The presiding pastor of the attacked church, Pastor Lawrence Abiodun Bamidele, said the congregation was celebrating the release of previous kidnap victims when the new attack occurred.
“We are doing Thanksgiving service for the 18 people who were kidnapped three weeks ago, and all of them were rescued. We were thanking God for their safe return, not knowing that danger was lurking around,” he lamented.
Recounting the terror, he said, “The incident happened unexpectedly and so fast. They came in and surrounded the church, shooting sporadically. Some who ran outside were shot from a tree, which one of the bandits climbed. In the pandemonium, three people died on the spot, and about 35 church members were kidnapped. We need government assistance. This attack is the first of its kind in Kwara State in a church.”
Adesuyi Joshua, whose wife and granddaughter were abducted, described the chilling moment: “They took my wife and our granddaughter, who were in the church, along with about 30 other people. At first, we thought the gunshots were knockouts, but the sound changed. By the time we mobilised ourselves to confront the attackers, it was too late.”
Joshua and a youth leader, Shola Peters, heavily criticized the security response. Joshua alleged, “We have soldiers around this place. We also have a police station, but nothing was done throughout the attack. When we were pursuing the bandits, the police started shooting from their gate. We thought it was the bandits again. When we got to the station, they tear-gassed us and allowed the attackers to escape.”
Peters echoed the frustration, alleging, “These are the same police officers the town supported. We built houses for the DPO and the men. When we needed them most, they failed us. Instead of joining us to pursue the bandits, they stopped us. The Inspector General needs to probe the Eruku division. All they do here is harass young boys and tag them as Yahoo boys or cultists.”
Peters, who confirmed youths confronted the bandits despite being heavily outgunned—“Their firepower was too much. They came with AK-49 rifles and machine guns”—demanded accountability. “We need the Commissioner of Police and the Inspector General to come and probe the police. We don’t want them again. Let the government give us guns; we can protect ourselves.”
The Ekiti LGA Christian Association of Nigeria Coordinator, Pastor Kenneth Adigoke, warned that the attack had serious implications, stating, “This attack is just like a direct assault on the Christian community and the body of Christ. Look at the situation that happened yesterday, they entered the church and killed three people on the spot, and kidnapped about 35. If they said there is genocide against the church or the Christian community, it can be justified.”
He concluded with a plea: “People are not happy. We want the government to handle this insecurity issue dispassionately, and we believe that with prayers, the issue will be tackled.”
