By Veritas News Hub Correspondent | Kwara State
IKERIN OPIN, EKITI LGA – Armed bandits launched a deadly attack on Ikerin Opin community in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State on Sunday evening, leaving three people dead and 18 others abducted, including at least 10 children and a pastor’s wife and her children. The assault occurred during an evening church service, sending residents into panic and deepening fears over the resurgence of violent attacks in the area.
According to accounts from community members, the attackers stormed the community while residents were gathered for worship. Eyewitnesses said the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately before forcing several people into the bush. Among those abducted were children, some of them infants still being breastfed, alongside the wife of a local pastor and her children.
“The attack happened so fast. People were running everywhere, but many could not escape,” a resident told Veritas News Hub on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. “Three people were shot dead on the spot. Eighteen others, mostly women and children, were taken away.”
The latest violence comes days after the same group was said to have invaded Agburu Community, also in Ekiti LGA, where they allegedly rustled over 1,000 cattle. Residents believe the two incidents are linked, pointing to a pattern of coordinated raids targeting both livestock and civilian populations.
Ikerin Opin has faced repeated attacks in recent years. Locals recalled a similar incident some years ago in which bandits shot a National Youth Service Corps member serving in the community. On that occasion, the attackers were reportedly repelled by local hunters, preventing further casualties.
Despite the presence of local vigilante groups, residents say the scale and frequency of the attacks have grown, leaving many feeling abandoned. Fear has gripped the community, with several families choosing to flee. The entire Fulani settlement in Ikerin Opin has evacuated and relocated to Osi Community, citing safety concerns and the risk of being caught in the crossfire.
“The people are living in fear. Nobody sleeps with both eyes closed anymore. Farmers can’t go to their farms, and now even worshippers are not safe in church,” another resident said.
As of Monday morning, neither the Executive Chairman of Ekiti LGA nor any other political office holder from the area had visited the community or issued a public statement on the attack. Residents expressed frustration over what they described as a lack of response from elected officials.
“The Executive Governor of the state has not said anything either,” a community leader said. “We are calling on both the federal and state governments to come to our aid immediately. If nothing is done now, more people will die or be taken away.”
The community’s appeal reflects growing anxiety over security in Kwara South, where rural areas have become increasingly vulnerable to banditry and kidnapping for ransom. Security experts note that the porous borders between Kwara, Kogi, and Niger states have made it easier for criminal gangs to move undetected and launch attacks before retreating into forested areas.
Civil society groups and residents are urging the Kwara State Government and federal security agencies to deploy more personnel to Ekiti LGA and establish permanent security outposts in vulnerable communities. They also called for intelligence-led operations to track and dismantle the criminal networks operating in the region.
“Condemnation is not enough. We need action. We need helicopters, drones, and ground troops to comb these forests. Our people cannot continue to live like refugees in their own land,” said a youth leader from Osi Community, where displaced families have taken refuge.
The abduction of women and children, particularly during a religious gathering, has drawn condemnation from religious leaders in the state, who described the act as an assault on both humanity and the sanctity of worship.
Kwara State, often regarded as one of the relatively peaceful states in Nigeria’s North-Central region, has in recent years witnessed an uptick in rural insecurity. Ekiti LGA, which shares boundaries with Kogi State, has become a flashpoint due to its proximity to forests and ungoverned spaces that serve as hideouts for armed groups.
Security analysts warn that without a coordinated response involving federal and state authorities, local vigilantes, and community leaders, the violence could spread further and undermine agricultural activity, which is the mainstay of the local economy.
As families in Ikerin Opin mourn the dead and pray for the safe return of the abducted, the community remains in a state of uncertainty. Many say they are ready to return home if the government can guarantee their safety.
“We are not asking for too much,” said a displaced resident now in Osi. “We just want to live in peace and sleep without fear. Is that too much to ask?”
Veritas News Hub will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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