Insecurity: Kwara Closes Schools in Four LGAs, Demands Military Base
The escalating insecurity in Kwara State reached a new level this week as the government ordered the immediate closure of schools across four Local Government Areas — Isin, Irepodun, Ifelodun, and Ekiti.
The directive, conveyed through the Nigeria Union of Teachers, followed fresh security alerts and the deadly attack on a church in Eruku, Ekiti LGA.
The tragic assault, carried out by armed bandits on Tuesday night, left three worshippers dead and more than 35 abducted. The congregation had gathered for a thanksgiving service in celebration of 18 previously rescued kidnapping persons when the attackers stormed the church with heavy weapons, trapping men, women, and children inside.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq visited the community for an on-the-spot assessment and announced plans to push for a Forward Operating Base of the Nigerian Army and a Mobile Police Squadron in Eruku. He confirmed discussions with the GOC 2 Division and the Inspector General of Police, stressing the urgent need to fortify the area.
But for residents, the grief of the night is compounded by anger. Affected people and community leaders accused security agents, particularly the police, of abandoning them in their moment of need.
Several residents recounted that despite having both police and military presence nearby, no intervention came during the hour-long attack. Some even alleged that police officers fired tear gas at community youths attempting to pursue the fleeing attackers.
As tension rose, hundreds of frustrated youths barricaded the Ilorin–Kabba Expressway, protesting what they described as a pattern of neglect by security forces. Many also raised concerns about suspicious coincidences surrounding the withdrawal or disarmament of local vigilantes shortly before attacks in the area.
Traditional leaders say the crisis has been ongoing for months. Farmers have fled, teachers are abandoning schools, and ransom payments have become a grim routine.
With poor road networks and porous borders, communities around Kwara’s boundary with Kogi and Ekiti States remain exposed to heavily armed groups seeking new hideouts after being displaced from other regions.
In response, the police commissioner and the DSS director assured residents of reinforced security deployments, promising justice and the placement of an Armoured Personnel Carrier in Eruku.
The situation leaves families in deep distress, especially those whose children were among the abducted or forced to flee their schools. The closure of schools underscores how insecurity is eroding not only safety but the basic foundations of childhood and education.
This incident directly threatens the Right of the Child to Education and Protection from All Forms of Violence.
Children have the right to learn in safe environments, free from fear, attacks, and abductions. Any threat to their safety is a violation of this fundamental right and places an urgent obligation on authorities to restore security, protect young lives, and safeguard their future.
