Youths of Eruku community in Ekiti Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State have held a major protest following a night-time assault in the area by armed bandits.
The protesters barricaded the Ilorin–Kabba highway at the entrance of the town, resulting in significant traffic delays.
The youths claimed that Tuesday’s attack, which went on for almost an hour, happened without any intervention from security personnel deployed in the community.
A youth leader, Peter Adesiyan, also faulted the police, noting that despite the community’s contributions to building facilities for the division, officers failed to act when residents required them most.
The Eruku attack forms part of the latest series of security breaches affecting border communities in Kwara State.
Two people were reportedly killed during the incident. A parish of the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, in Eruku, was also targeted.
“They came around nightfall and started shooting. Two people were killed instantly, and we don’t even know how many were taken,” one resident said.
“We need federal help. These attacks are becoming too much for us to bear,” an elder in the community added.
Following the incident, the Kwara State Government has requested additional security personnel.
President Bola Tinubu also postponed his scheduled visits to South Africa and Angola due to the killings and the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State.
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