Residents of Eruku in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State say the recent deployment of military personnel has done little to stem the rising tide of insecurity that has unsettled the agrarian community in recent weeks.
The town has endured a string of violent incidents, including the attack on the Christ Apostolic Church where 38 worshippers were abducted, leaving households traumatised and local leaders scrambling for solutions.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, a community leader, Shola Daniel, said the palpable fear across Eruku remains unchanged despite the security presence. According to him, farmers—who form the backbone of the local economy—continue to venture into their fields with trepidation.
He noted that officers stationed in the area appear limited in operational directives and capacity. “Farmers still go to their farms daily, but the fear of the unknown is a major burden. The military personnel told us they have not been authorised to go into the bush. And even if they were, how many farmers could they escort? How well-equipped are they to confront bandits who are heavily armed?” he queried.
Daniel also lamented the persistence of attacks after the church incident, pointing to recent assaults on farmlands. “Just a few days ago, some farmers were attacked. Some escaped, but one person is still unaccounted for,” he added, underscoring a worsening humanitarian concern.
The community leader, however, acknowledged that certain government interventions have begun to take shape following the incidents, though he stressed that the impact remains modest and insufficient to reassure residents or deter criminal gangs.
