Summary: ECWA Kwara raises alarm over rising kidnappings and killings in Kwara South, following the murder of member Omoniyi Ajise and abduction of five residents in Oyatedo village.
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The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Kwara State has sounded a distress alarm over what it describes as an increasingly dangerous wave of kidnappings and killings sweeping through communities in Kwara South Senatorial District. The church is calling on government authorities to take immediate and decisive action to restore peace and security to the troubled region.
Fresh Attack Claims Life, Five Abducted
The latest cry for help comes after a deadly attack in Oyatedo village, located in Irepodun Local Government Area. Suspected kidnappers reportedly killed an ECWA member, Mr. Omoniyi Ajise, and whisked away his wife along with four other residents in a brazen nighttime raid.
In what appears to be a cruel irony, the incident occurred on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, while ECWA district council leaders across the state were gathered in Omu-Aran for an emergency security meeting. A communiqué issued at the end of that meeting and made available to journalists on Thursday painted a grim picture of life in many Kwara communities today.
The communiqué bore the signatures of Samuel Adewumi, Chairman of the ECWA Joint District Church Councils Forum in the state, and Joseph Agboluaje, the forum’s Secretary.
Church Leaders Unite Over Security Crisis
The emergency meeting brought together church leaders from five district councils: Ilorin, Omu-Aran, Igbaja, Oro-Ago, and Fate-Tanke. Together, they deliberated on the mounting security challenges facing communities across the state and neighbouring areas.
According to the church leaders, the Oyatedo attack is far from an isolated incident. They revealed that communities around Oro-Ago, Babanla, and other parts of the district have witnessed a growing number of similar attacks in recent times.
The leaders disclosed that two elderly residents—identified simply as Baba Dada and Baba Ishola—were among those earlier abducted in Ahun village. The kidnappers eventually released the elderly men after discovering their advanced age, but the trauma and disruption to community life remained.
‘What Was Abnormal Has Become Normal’
The church leaders described the current security situation as nothing short of alarming. Kidnappings and armed attacks have become frighteningly frequent in several rural communities, turning everyday life into a nightmare for ordinary citizens.
The timing could not be worse. The insecurity has struck at the peak of the cashew harvesting season—a crucial period when farmers earn the bulk of their annual income. With their lives under constant threat, many farmers have abandoned their farms, leaving crops unharvested and families without livelihood.
“Many communities now live under constant threat from criminal groups,” the communiqué stated. “What used to be abnormal has now become routine in many communities across the district.”
Churches Shut Down, Congregations Scattered
Beyond the immediate violence, the security crisis has had devastating effects on religious and community life. Several ECWA churches in affected communities have been forced to shut their doors as members and clergy flee their homes in search of safety.
“Many pastors are now without congregations, while members and residents have been compelled to flee their homes,” the communiqué read. “Economic activities have been severely disrupted and many families have been pushed into hardship.”
The displacement has scattered church communities that took years to build, leaving pastors to shepherd invisible flocks and congregations to worship in fear—if they can worship at all.
Urgent Appeal to Government and Security Agencies
With the situation reaching crisis levels, the ECWA forum has issued an urgent call to the Federal Government, Kwara State Government, and security agencies to strengthen operations across the affected areas.
The church leaders emphasized that protecting lives and property remains a fundamental responsibility of government—one that must be fulfilled without delay.
Their specific recommendations include:
– Deploying more security personnel to vulnerable communities
– Strengthening intelligence gathering capabilities
– Adopting proactive rather than reactive strategies
– Sustained operations to curb kidnapping and other criminal activities in Kwara South and neighbouring communities
The forum assured that while calling for government action, the church would continue supporting peace efforts through prayers and moral guidance. They encouraged members to remain law-abiding citizens even in these trying times.
“ECWA remains committed to promoting peace, unity and community development across the state,” the leaders affirmed.
Police Response: “We’re Not Resting on Our Oars”
When contacted for comment, the Kwara State Police Command said it had not been officially informed about the specific incidents mentioned by the church.
“I am not aware of any such incident,” Superintendent of Police Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the command’s spokesperson, told journalists in a telephone interview on Thursday. She noted that no formal report had been made to the police about the Oyatedo attack.
However, SP Ejire-Adeyemi assured residents that the command was working tirelessly to ensure safety across the state.
“You know the command is not resting on its oars. Just on Monday, the IGP visited Kwara State and he promised to ensure banditry in the state would be a thing of the past,” she said.
She added that the police had made recent arrests of suspected criminals, noting that “those suspects will be charged in court soon after the conclusion of investigation.”
A Call for Collective Action
As insecurity continues to disrupt life in Kwara South, the ECWA’s alarm serves as a reminder that the fight against criminality requires collective effort from government, security agencies, religious bodies, and communities themselves.
For the widow of Omoniyi Ajise—if she survives her captors—and the families of the other abducted residents, every day counts. Their safe return and the restoration of peace to Kwara’s troubled communities depend on swift, coordinated action.
The question now is whether authorities will respond with the urgency this crisis demands before more lives are lost and more communities are torn apart.
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