FOR some reason, the terrorists behind the blood slaughter in the country are capable of killing any time they wish. For some time now, they have turned Kwara State, particularly the Yoruba speaking areas, into a theater of bloodshed, apparently with genocidal intentions. In the latest attack in the state, the state police command confirmed on Tuesday, terrorists killed at least two people and injured another during the attacks in Eruku, a border town in Ekiti local government area. A parish of the Christ Apostolic Church was one of the places they attacked. The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said: “The Kwara State Police Command confirms an attempted attack by bandits in Eruku, which occurred at about 6pm today, November 18, 2025. DPO Eruku and his team of police officers, in collaboration with vigilantes, quickly responded to the sound of gunfire emanating from the outskirts of the town, prompting the hoodlums fled to The police confirmed that one male victim, Mr. Aderemi, was fatally shot inside the church, while another, Mr. Tunde Asaba Ajayi, was found dead in the forest. A watchman, Segun Alaja, suffered gunshot wounds and was rushed to ECWA Hospital, Eruku for treatment. decimated.
Unsurprisingly, many Nigerians reacted angrily to the attack, lamenting that nowhere is safe in this country anymore. The incident, captured on a livestream, reportedly took place during a program before the church’s prayer vigil. According to witnesses, the attackers entered the church while the service was being held and immediately opened fire. One of them said: “The gunmen entered the church while people were gathered. They started shooting and three people were killed immediately. They later gathered some worshipers, including the pastor, and marched them towards the mountain.” And reacting to the incident, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq urged the Federal Government to send urgent security deployment to Ekiti Local Government Area, especially Eruku axis, to curb the recent spate of attacks. He said: “We condemn the unconscionable attack. We stand in solidarity with the people of Eruku and its surrounding areas, especially the families and the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), directly affected by Tuesday’s attack.”
Following that appeal, a House of Representatives press release signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy and released on Wednesday, indicated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had agreed to the request. The president postponed his scheduled trip to Johannesburg, South Africa and Luanda, Angola, while he awaited further security reports on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the attack on worshipers in Eruku. According to the statement, in response to the request of the Kwara governor, President Tinubu ordered the deployment of more security men in Eruku and the entire Ekiti area of the state, and ordered the police to chase “bandits” attacking worshipers. The statement added: “President Tinubu reiterates his directive to the security agencies to do everything possible to rescue the 24 schoolgirls kidnapped by the bandits and bring them back home safely.”
Time and again we have mourned the terrorist attacks in Kwara State, but the trail of bloodshed has only grown larger and more heartbreaking. In April, terrorists killed six people, including a security guard, in the Ilesha Baruba area of the state. In June, they attacked Duruma village in the Baruten area of the state and killed three villagers. This was followed in August by their vicious attack on Oke-Ode in Ifelodun Local Government Area, a bloody event in which they killed 15 vigilantes and kidnapped many residents, displacing scores of people. In September, they attacked the Ifelodun area of the state, leaving 12 forest guards and a local traditional ruler dead. In another development in October, terrorists closed Patigi General Hospital after kidnapping two medical staff, forcing residents to seek medical care elsewhere. This month, four people were kidnapped in Koro, a community located in Ekiti council. As we noted last month, the attacks had caused 70 deaths, 52 injuries and 40 kidnappings in the last six months, with 142 people kidnapped and 25 communities deserted in just one year.
Apart from the Senate, prominent people and organisations, including former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, the most prominent socio-cultural group, Afenifere; The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, and the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, among others, have called for an end to the orgy of violence in the state. It is time for the government to take decisive action and curb the menace. The security of life is the raison d’être of the State and its legitimacy is eroded when the government allows bandits to rob, kill and maim innocent citizens with impunity. In particular, we look at the undeniable ethnic undercurrents of the attacks in Kwara State, where members of the Yoruba ethnic group are apparently being targeted for extermination. It would be a tragedy if the government allows the Fulani terrorists to continue trampling the rest of the country, acting as brutal butchers.
As we have said time and again, the centralization of Nigeria’s security architecture cannot guarantee the security of life and property. There must be state police. The government must put aside its usual lethargy on this issue and act before it is too late.