Eruku community in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State was thrown into chaos on Friday morning as suspected bandits stormed the village, setting a vehicle on fire before being repelled by local security operatives.
As reported by Politics Nigeria, the attack, which occurred around 5:00 a.m., saw heavily armed gunmen firing sporadically, sending residents fleeing in panic.
Locals said the community has been repeatedly targeted in recent months, raising concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the area.
“Eruku is my village. This is not the first time bandits have attacked us,” a resident said.
“The last time, they struck during a church live programme. This morning, they came very early, fired into the air, and burned a vehicle. People are scared. We are calling for help because this place is no longer safe.”
A local security source confirmed that operatives, including vigilantes and forest guards, confronted the attackers, preventing the situation from escalating.
“It was an attempted kidnapping, which our security teams were able to repel,” the source said.
Eruku is located near the boundary between Kwara and Kogi states, an area that has become increasingly vulnerable to attacks by armed groups operating from surrounding forests.
The proximity to Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi, where banditry and kidnappings have intensified, has made Eruku and neighbouring settlements frequent targets for criminal gangs.
“This is the boundary between Kogi and Kwara. The Yagba West axis is facing serious bandit attacks. They are killing and abducting people there, and now they are coming to our communities,” the source added.
Residents lamented that the repeated attacks have left many villagers living in fear, with some considering relocation if urgent security interventions are not implemented.
They urged the Kwara State Government and security agencies to strengthen patrols and deploy more personnel to the border communities to prevent further attacks.
