The Owa of Eruku, Oba Olanrewaju Busari, has raised fresh concerns over the continuous exposure of his community in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, a state located in North Central Nigeria, to violent attacks by armed criminal groups commonly referred to in Nigeria as bandits. His concerns follow the recent rescue of thirty-eight residents who were abducted in an incident that renewed national attention on insecurity across Nigeria’s rural border communities.
Okay News reports that the monarch made the disclosure during an interview on the programme ARISE News Night, aired on ARISE News, an international Nigerian television network, where he explained that the attackers exploit the vast forest corridors that stretch across state boundaries and connect Kwara State to Ekiti State and Kogi State in the country’s central region.
According to the traditional ruler, several red flags had appeared before the most recent attack, but the severity of the incident surpassed earlier patterns observed in the locality.
He explained, “We are somewhat vulnerable because we have large forests linking the community with neighbouring states and local governments. This makes it easier for them to move around in the surrounding forests. We have been hearing gunshots along the roads, and farmers have sometimes been harassed and forced away from their farms. Our local vigilantes have been trying to manage the situation, but the scale of what happened on Tuesday was unprecedented.”
Oba Busari added that although the area is legally governed and within the jurisdiction of security formations, the attackers often blend into legitimate pastoral movements, complicating efforts to identify them.
He said, “The attackers strike and run. Our local hunters sometimes pursue them, but they escape and return later. Often they mix with herders — you can hardly tell who is a herder and who is a kidnapper.”
The monarch acknowledged the swift reaction of both federal and state authorities, noting that the deployment of military personnel and officers of the Nigeria Police Force provided timely support to the affected residents. He commended President Ahmed Tinubu, the Kwara State Government, the Commissioner of Police in the state, and the Department of State Services (DSS), the domestic intelligence agency in Nigeria.
“I thank President Ahmed Tinubu for quickly deploying soldiers and police. I also thank the Kwara State Government and His Excellency for coming to our rescue almost immediately. The Commissioner of Police and the Department of State Services rose to the occasion,” he said.
Despite these interventions, Oba Busari insisted that the community requires a permanent and structured security presence, especially because its location places it at the intersection of three states and multiple forest routes that criminals often use as escape channels.
“There must be a lasting solution, including the positioning of permanent security personnel, such as the military or a mobile police squadron. Our community borders Kwara, Ekiti, and Kogi States, making it difficult to identify who is who. Permanent security personnel can monitor and check the activities of these hideouts,” he added.
The Owa of Eruku revealed that he had already communicated these expectations directly to the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who personally visited the area after the attack.
“We spoke with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. He personally visited the community, and we requested these measures. We received a positive response that the government will establish a permanent Forward Operating Base,” he said.
The monarch encouraged the people of Eruku to remain vigilant, saying that cooperation between residents and security agencies is essential for preventing future incidents.
“People should be courageous and report any strange movements or unfamiliar faces so we can alert the authorities for immediate action,” he advised.
Speaking about the condition of the rescued residents, Oba Busari reassured the public that medical and psychological support had been provided.
“I am happy; their spirits are high. Not all may be fully recovered — some may feel weak — but with time, they will recover. I am very glad the government has taken them to the hospital for proper care,” he concluded.
