The Owa of Eruku, Oba Olanrewaju Busari, has raised a fresh alarm over the growing vulnerability of his community in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, following recurring attacks by armed bandits.
Speaking on ARISE News on Monday night, the monarch said dense forest corridors linking Eruku to neighbouring states have made it easy for criminal groups to move undetected, even as he reacted to the recent rescue of 38 abducted residents.
According to the traditional ruler, signs of danger had emerged well before the latest attack.
“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,” he said.
“We’ve 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 explained that policing the vast area remains difficult as attackers often blend in with herders, making it nearly impossible to distinguish them.
“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,” he said.
The monarch commended federal and state authorities for the swift deployment of security operatives to the community but emphasized that only a permanent security presence can prevent future attacks.
“I thank President Ahmed Tinubu for quickly deploying soldiers and police. I also thank the Kwara State Government for coming to our rescue almost immediately. The Commissioner of Police and the DSS rose to the occasion.
“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 stated.
Oba Busari revealed that he has communicated these concerns directly to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
“We spoke with Governor 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 urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies.
“People should be courageous and report any strange movements or unfamiliar faces so we can alert the authorities for immediate action,” he advised.
