Kwara Terrorists’ Church Invasion: Locals Suspect Connivance

By Suleiman Anyalewechi 

The Kwara State Government has lauded the swift response and intervention of security operatives in repelling attacks by suspected banditry elements on a  Church in Kwara State.

The Source reports that hordes of  terrorists invaded an ECWA Church in Omugo community ,Ifelodun Local Council of Kwara State, early Sunday morning, abducting no  fewer than nine worshipers.

However, the prompt intervention of a combined team of Police, military, forest guards and other local vigilante operatives resulted in the rescue of three kidnapped victims, and the repel of the attack.

According to local witness accounts, the attention of security operatives were drawn by Church goers, and some villagers who escaped the attack, with the timely arrival of security operatives said to have prevented what could have been another case of mass abduction.

“I was informed that nine worshipers were successfully taken away into the forest, with three others rescued by a combined team of security personnel, including the Police, military and forest guards.

“We had prior information about a possible attack, and I expected security to be on alert. The Church is less than two kilometres from a military base. So one begins to suspect conspiracy and connivance because they will soon begin to demand ransom”, local source close to the Kwara South Joint Security Watch volunteered.

But while confirming the incident, the State Commissioner for Communications Bolanle Olukoju, commended security agencies for their efforts in handling the situation.

“We commend the immediate and coordinated response of the security forces, forest guards ,and local vigilantes ,which led to the rescue of three of the abducted victims ,and helped in repelling the attack” Olukoju added.

However, the Commissioner tasked the security operatives to ensure that adequate machineries are put in place to ensure the location and rescue of the remaining victims ,as well as the arrest of the perpetrators .

This is as she condemned the attack on Sunday worshipers, describing it as  cowardly.

Olukoju urged members of the  public to work closely with security operatives ,and other relevant authorities to halt the spate of terrorist attacks ravaging some parts of the State.