The Owa of Eruku, Oba Olanrewaju Busari, has warned that his community in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State remains vulnerable to repeated attacks because bandits ‘move easily through the large forests’ linking the town with neighbouring states.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE News on Monday following the rescue of dozens of abducted residents, the monarch said:
“We are somehow vulnerable because we have large forests joining the community with neighbouring states and local governments, so it’s easier for them to move around in the forest around the community.”
He revealed that the community had noticed warning signs before the latest attack.
“We’ve been experiencing pockets of gunshots along the road, and at times farmers have been harassed and sent away from their farms. We’ve been battling with them with our local vigilante, but the magnitude that happened on Tuesday, we’ve never experienced such,” he said.
Oba Busari stressed that the area is not ungoverned but difficult to police because the attackers blend in with herders.
“It’s not like the area is not governed; it’s governed. They strike and run away. In most cases our local hunters pursue them, and they escape but later come back. At times they mix with the herders. You hardly know who is a herder and who is a kidnapper. You see a herd of about 50 cows controlled by about 30 men or boys, and you can’t tell who among them is a kidnapper.”
The traditional ruler expressed gratitude to federal and state authorities for responding swiftly:
“Let me use this opportunity to thank the federal government, President Ahmed Tinubu. He quickly deployed soldiers and police. I also thank the Kwara State Government and His Excellency for coming to our rescue almost immediately. The Commissioner of Police and the DSS rose to the occasion.”
However, he insisted that Eruku needs a permanent security presence to prevent future attacks.
“There must be a permanent solution. This has to do with positioning permanent security personnel like the military or a mobile police squadron. The community has borders with Kwara, Ekiti and Kogi States, and the borders are so close that people can hardly know who is who. With permanent security personnel, they can monitor and checkmate the activities of these hideouts.”
Oba Busari said he had communicated these demands directly to the state governor.
“We spoke with His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. He personally visited the community, and we requested these things. We got a positive reply that the government will work on a permanent Forward Operating Base.”
He urged residents to remain vigilant and volunteer intelligence:
“People should be courageous to tell us any information, any strange movement or strange faces so we can report to the authorities for immediate action.”
On the condition of the freed captives, the monarch said he had spoken with some by phone.
“I’m happy; I saw their spirits are high. Not all of them are down—many people these days are on drugs, so you can’t rule out some being weak—but with time they will catch up. I’m very happy the government has taken them to the hospital to take care of them.”
Boluwatife Enome
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