Kidnappers Kill ECWA Member, Abduct Wife, Four Others in Kwara

The Evangelical Church Winning All in Kwara State has raised concern over what it described as a worsening wave of kidnappings and killings across communities in the Kwara South Senatorial District, urging authorities to take urgent steps to restore security.

The church’s alarm followed a fresh attack in Oyatedo village in Irepodun Local Government Area, where suspected kidnappers reportedly killed an ECWA member, Omoniyi Ajise, and abducted his wife along with four other residents.

The incident occurred on Wednesday while leaders of ECWA district councils in the state were holding a security meeting in Omu-Aran, according to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting.

The communiqué was signed by Samuel O. Adewumi, Chairman of the ECWA Joint District Church Councils Forum in the state, and Joseph O. Agboluaje, its Secretary.

The meeting brought together leaders from the Ilorin, Omu-Aran, Igbaja, Oro-Ago and Fate-Tanke District Church Councils to deliberate on the growing security challenges affecting communities in the state and neighbouring areas.

According to the church leaders, the latest attack adds to a growing list of kidnapping incidents reported in communities around Oro-Ago, Babanla and other parts of the district.

They also disclosed that two elderly residents, identified simply as Dada and Ishola, were among the persons earlier abducted in Ahun village but were later released after the kidnappers reportedly realised their advanced age. The church leaders described the security situation as alarming, noting that kidnappings and attacks had become frequent occurrences in several rural communities.

They warned that the persistent insecurity is particularly affecting farmers at the peak of the cashew harvesting season, a major source of livelihood for residents.

According to the communiqué, many farmers have abandoned their farms for fear of attacks, while communities now live under constant threat from criminal groups.

The forum also lamented that the insecurity had forced the closure of several ECWA churches in affected communities, as members and clergy fled their homes in search of safety.

“Many pastors are now without congregations, while members and residents have been compelled to flee their homes. Economic activities have been severely disrupted, and many families have been pushed into hardship,” the communiqué read.