Insecurity: Over 50 schools shut in Kwara

The Kwara State Government has ordered the closure of more than fifty schools across five local government areas of the state. The affected LGAs are Ifelodun, Ekiti, Irepodun, Isin and Oke Ero. The decision follows a renewed surge in bandit attacks in parts of the state. Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Lawal Olohungbebe, […]

The Kwara State Government has ordered the closure of more than fifty schools across five local government areas of the state.

The affected LGAs are Ifelodun, Ekiti, Irepodun, Isin and Oke Ero.

The decision follows a renewed surge in bandit attacks in parts of the state.

Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Lawal Olohungbebe, said the move became necessary after security assessments warned that criminals fleeing pressure from ongoing operations could target schools.

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Olohungbebe said the government acted to stop armed groups from using pupils as shields.

He said the safety of learners was the priority of the administration.

Government officials said the closure which includes boarding, will remain until the areas are declared safe.

Calls and a text message to the commissioner regarding the number of affected schools went unanswered last night.

Also, the chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof Abdulraheem Adaramaja, did not answer the several phone calls and a text message sent to him on the issue.

Before this latest closure, Adaramaja had announced during the Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing last month that the government had ordered the closure of 45 public schools across several communities following persistent bandit attacks in parts of the state.

However, a senior staff member of the ministry who spoke under anonymity said the affected schools were about 50.

“About 45 to 50 schools are affected, but I cannot give you the exact figures now,” the official said.

A former local government chairman in Ekiti who does not want his name in print said there are over 30 schools in Ekiti Local Government alone.

Ibraheem Abdullateef, senior special assistant to the governor on communications, had described the move as a proactive step.

He added that combined security forces had already begun operations to stabilise the affected zones.

He assured that the schools would reopen once security agencies give clearance.

The state’s Commissioner for Tertiary Education and Human Capital Development, Lawal Olohungbe, recently told Daily Trust that the government was considering radio lessons for children in affected communities.

He said the government considered online learning but quickly realised that poor network connectivity in rural communities would limit its effectiveness.

“As good and desirable as online classes would have been, many of the core areas in Kwara North and other affected communities have network issues. This brings us to the second option, which is radio classes where we just make an announcement for children to be granted access to the radio for some specific hours. The state government is working on improving this situation,” he said.

The school closure came days after gunmen attacked a Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku.

Three worshippers were confirmed killed in the incident, with over 30 reported abducted and still in captivity.

Security agencies have since expanded surveillance around schools and public places.

The Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, told our correspondent in a telephone chat that normalcy has returned to Eruku with expanded security operations.

He said, “Additional deployments from Abuja are on their way as I speak with you now because of the importance the government attached to the matter.

“While the security operatives are still combing the bush for the captives, we have not heard anything yet about their rescue. But we shall get them by the face of God.”

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had on Wednesday visited Eruku after the military moved into the community after the attack.

He told the church members that both the state and federal governments were working together to stabilise the area.

“Every necessary step is being taken to keep our people safe. The swift response has restored confidence and prevented any further escalation. We will not relent. Those threatening the peace of our state will be flushed out.

“The newly recruited forest guards who are undergoing training at Sobi Barracks will be deployed to the communities after the soldiers have left,” he said.

He urged residents to stay calm and to support ongoing security operations, adding that additional intelligence efforts were underway across border communities in Kwara South to involve local vigilante groups and traditional rulers.

 

3 killed in fresh attack

Meanwhile, three people have reportedly been killed in a fresh attack by bandits in the Bokungi community, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The incident, it was gathered, occurred on Wednesday around 6:30pm, less than 24 hours after the brutal attack in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.

Two of the victims, who were rice farmers, were said to be heading to the farms to retrieve harvested rice when the bandits struck.

Community sources said four individuals, including a vigilante, were initially kidnapped during the incidents.

One of the sources said assailants later killed the two rice farmers and inflicted wounds on a third individual, who is said to be a vigilante.

“The victims were at their farmlands to retrieve harvested rice when the bandits struck. They attacked two separate groups.

“The first attack resulted in the abduction of two people who were packaging their harvested rice.

“Shortly thereafter, the bandits abducted another two people from a neighbouring farm. In total, four people were taken captive in the coordinated attacks, including a teenage boy,” he added.

The bandits later went away with a Bajaj motorcycle recently distributed to the vigilantes by the local government chairman, Abdullahi Bello, to aid security patrols.

Several calls to the council chairman and the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, were not answered on Thursday.

But a vigilante commander in Edu, Gina Gana, confirmed the incident.

He said, “The bandits attacked the victim as they were preparing to leave the farm on Wednesday in the community.

“They have killed three people, including two farmers and a vigilante, but we are yet to see the last person.

“We have been experiencing relative peace after the security situation peaked months ago, except for some pockets of attacks in a few places, until this incident.”

On Thursday, the governor hosted a combined delegation of the Eruku community and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) following the attack.

Speaking during the engagement, the governor said, “Yesterday (Wednesday), I led a delegation that included the Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), and officials of our government to Eruku to condole with the people on the unfortunate incident.

“I’m equally saddened at the report of an attack on rice farmers in the Bokungi area of Edu LGA. I wholly condemn these attacks. May God repose the souls of our compatriots who died in the incidents. I also pray that their families find the fortitude to bear the loss,” he said.

 

Bandits demand N100m ransom for each victim

Meanwhile, the bandits who abducted worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Eruku in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State have placed N100 million on each of the abductees.

A community leader and Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun, whose four relatives were among the kidnapped victims, confirmed the bandits’ request.

Chief Olukotun, who spoke with journalists on Thursday, said the bandits have started contacting family members.

Olukotun also said that he was in church with five of his family members when the incident occurred, adding that he and one of his wards escaped the attack around 6:06 pm through the church window.

“From what we gathered from the kidnappers’ camp, they (kidnappers) have grouped the victims according to their relations and are now calling our people through each of the groups.

“Some people in the community have received calls from the kidnappers demanding N100 million for each person, but as regards my own people, I have not received any call concerning them, so I am still waiting,” he said.

Speaking on the development, the chairman of the local government, Hon. Awelewa Olawale, told Daily Trust on Thursday night, “When I first heard about it, I called my councillor in Eruku, but he said he was not aware and that none of the victims had contacted them.”

Olawale added that he had just concluded a security meeting with traditional rulers and local vigilantes to discuss possible rescue efforts.

“They requested ammunition, which we have provided, so they can join those already in the bush,” he said.

He explained the logistics, stating, “We have two routes that link the forest. Those already inside will follow one path, while those going to join them will use the other through Idofin. From what we have gathered, the bandits are still in Ekiti.”