Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, has condemned the recent killings in parts of Kwara state, describing the attacks as “unacceptable and deeply troubling”.
On Tuesday, at least 75 residents were killed and several houses set ablaze when suspected terrorists attacked the Nuku and Woro communities in the Kaiama LGA of Kwara state.
On Wednesday, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, governor of Kwara, said residents of the communities were killed for refusing to bow to extremists.
In a statement on Thursday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was saddened by the loss of innocent lives and extended condolences to the families and communities affected by the attack.
She warned that the continued bloodshed poses a serious threat to national peace and stability, urging governments at all levels to take urgent and decisive action.
“The persistent killings of innocent Nigerians are unacceptable and deeply troubling. My heart goes out to the families who have been plunged into grief by these senseless acts,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan said protecting lives and ensuring justice must remain a core responsibility of government.
“Protecting lives and ensuring justice must be non-negotiable. The safety of our citizens should always be the highest priority of government,” she said.
The senator called on federal and state authorities to move beyond rhetoric and implement coordinated measures to curb the rising insecurity.
She said swift and transparent investigations into the Kwara attacks are essential to ensure accountability and restore public confidence.
“Those responsible for these attacks must be identified and brought to justice without delay,” she said.
The senator called on federal and state authorities to move beyond rhetoric and implement coordinated measures to curb the rising insecurity.
She said swift and transparent investigations into the Kwara attacks are essential to ensure accountability and restore public confidence.
“Those responsible for these attacks must be identified and brought to justice without delay,” she said.
“Impunity only emboldens criminal elements and deepens the suffering of our people.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan said political leaders and security agencies have both a constitutional and moral duty to act decisively to prevent further bloodshed.
She stressed the need for proactive intelligence gathering, community engagement, and strengthened security operations.
“These killings underscore the urgent need for a more effective and people-centred security architecture,” she said. (TheCable)
President Bola Tinubu has, for the umpteenth time, vowed that Nigeria will never surrender its people to extremism and terrorism masquerading as faith.
The President’s vow came on the heels of the recent attack in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State by gunmen that led to the death of about 100 people.
President Tinubu condemned in the strongest terms “the cowardly and beastly attack”, describing the gunmen as “heartless for choosing soft targets in their campaign of terror.”
He said the actions of the gunmen offended humanity and Nigeria’s shared values as a nation.
The President, in a statement he personally signed on Thursday night after meeting with Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said that perpetrators of the dastardly act will not go scot-free.
The statement read: “Today, I met with the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq @RealAARahman, to be debriefed on the incident in Kaiama LGA.
“I condemn in the strongest terms this cowardly and beastly attack. The gunmen are heartless for choosing soft targets in their doomed campaign of terror. Their actions offend our humanity, our faith, and our shared values as a nation.
“Yesterday, I directed the immediate deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State following the horrific attack on innocent villagers in Worro.
“This new military command will spearhead Operation Savannah Shield to checkmate these barbaric terrorists and protect defenceless communities.
“It is particularly disturbing that the victims were killed because they rejected an attempt at forced indoctrination. As I said, it is commendable that the community members, even though Muslims, refused to be conscripted into a weird belief that promoted violence over peace and dialogue. Nigeria will never surrender its people to extremism and terrorism masquerading as faith.
“I have further directed close collaboration between federal and state agencies to provide immediate support and relief to the affected community and to ensure that those responsible for this atrocity are pursued and brought to justice, just like other terrorists before them. They will not go scot-free.
“I pray for the repose of the souls of the departed and extend my deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones. I also sympathise with the people and government of Kwara State.
“The Federal Government stands with you. We will protect our communities, defend our values, and defeat those who seek to divide us through terror.” (Vanguard)
The Kwara State Government, on Wednesday, directed the closure of schools across four local government areas amid escalating insecurity in the affected communities.
The government’s decision was disclosed by the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Kwara State Wing, on Wednesday. In a circular issued on Wednesday and obtained by The PUNCH, the NUT Chairman, Yusuf Agboola, announced the shutdown of schools in Isin, Irepodun, Ifelodun, and Ekiti LGAs.
Agboola explained that the union was acting strictly on instructions from the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development after the government raised concerns over fresh security threats in Kwara South.
“Comrade chairmen, this is to inform you and through you, all schools in the above local governments of the instruction to close down all schools with immediate effect until further notice,” the circular read.
“This decision was occasioned by the security challenges ravaging the area and the efforts of the government to control the situation. Treat this information as important and with the urgency it deserves, as it emanated from the ministry.”
He assured school heads and teachers that further directives would be communicated as the situation evolves.
On Wednesday, Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq also announced plans to seek the establishment of a Forward Operating Base of the Nigerian Army and a Mobile Police Squadron in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area, following Tuesday night’s deadly bandit attack on a church in the community, which left three worshippers dead and over 35 abducted.
The governor, who visited Eruku for an on-the-spot assessment, disclosed that he had spoken with the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on the urgent security upgrade needed in the crisis-hit area.
“We will speak with the GOC to see that we have a Forward Operating Base in Eruku to enhance security here and also talk to the Inspector General of Police about establishing a mobile squadron here,” Abdulrazaq said.
“It is indeed unfortunate what happened yesterday despite all the effort we have been making. Our main purpose here is to commiserate with the people of the community. All the security agencies are on this. The President had to cancel his trip to the G-20 because of this incident and that of Kebbi State. So the President is aware and we are on top of the situation,” he added.
For many residents, the governor’s visit came after a harrowing night of fear, bloodshed, and unanswered pleas for help.
One of the victims, Adesuyi Joshua, whose wife and granddaughter were among those abducted, recounted the horror.
“They took my wife and our granddaughter, who were in the church, along with about 30 other people. At first, we thought the gunshots were knockouts, but the sound changed. By the time we mobilised ourselves to confront the attackers, it was too late,” he said.
He accused security agents, especially the police, of worsening the situation instead of assisting the community.
“We have soldiers around this place. We also have a police station, but nothing was done throughout the attack.
“When we were pursuing the bandits, the police started shooting from their gate. We thought it was the bandits again. When we got to the station, they tear-gassed us and allowed the attackers to escape,” he alleged.
Another youth leader, Shola Peters, also accused the police of failing the community despite benefitting from local support.
“These are the same police officers the town supported. We built houses for the DPO and the men. When we needed them most, they failed us.
“Instead of joining us to pursue the bandits, they stopped us. The Inspector General needs to probe the Eruku division. All they do here is harass young boys and tag them as Yahoo boys or cultists.
“We need the Commissioner of Police and the Inspector General to come and probe the police. We don’t want them again. Let the government give us guns; we can protect ourselves.”
He added that despite having only “a Dane gun and one pump-action,” the youths confronted the armed attackers.
“Their firepower was too much. They came with AK-49 rifles and machine guns.”
Speaking earlier with The PUNCH, the President Pastor of the attacked church, Pastor Lawrence Abiodun Bamidele, said the congregation was holding a thanksgiving service for 18 kidnapped residents freed last week when the bandits struck.
“We are doing Thanksgiving service for the 18 people who were kidnapped three weeks ago, and all of them were rescued. We were thanking God for their safe return, not knowing that danger was lurking around.
“The incident happened unexpectedly and so fast. They came in and surrounded the church, shooting sporadically. Some who ran outside were shot from a tree, which one of the bandits climbed.
“In the pandemonium, three people died on the spot, and about 35 church members were kidnapped. We need government assistance. This attack is the first of its kind in Kwara State in a church.”
The Ekiti LGA Christian Association of Nigeria Coordinator, Pastor Kenneth Adigoke, expressed deep concern, warning that the attack could be interpreted as an assault on the Christian community.
“This attack is just like a direct assault on the Christian community and the body of Christ.
“Look at the situation that happened yesterday, they entered the church and killed three people on the spot, and kidnapped about 35. If they said there is genocide against the church or the Christian community, it can be justified.
“People are not happy. We want the government to handle this insecurity issue dispassionately, and we believe that with prayers, the issue will be tackled.” (Punch)
Kwara Government has scrapped the Parents Teachers Association levy in public primary schools, approving annual school grants instead.
Chairman State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Shehu Adaramaja, announced this at the opening of the bid for the 2024 (3rd and 4th quarters) UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects.
PUNCH Online reports that the PTA levy is a fee collected from parents in Nigerian schools to supplement school funding, with the collected funds used for projects, facilities, or activities not covered by the government’s allocation.
While the fee is often minimal compared with charges at private schools, it can impose financial burdens on average families.
In place of the PTA levy, Adaramaja said the state government will provide running costs for the 1,717 public schools.
”The Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has approved the stoppage of the payment of PTA in all public primary schools in the state, from primary 1 to 6, no more payment of PTA in Kwara State,” he said.
The SUBEB boss also announced the approval of the procurement of English and Maths textbooks by the governor for free to the pupils in primary schools in the state.
Speaking on the bid opening, the Chairman said the intervention would cover projects, including the construction of a block of two classrooms with an office and the construction of toilets.
”The intervention also covers the remodelling and renovation of classrooms, drilling of solar-powered boreholes with tank stands, and rehabilitation of digital literacy across the state.
”It also covers the procurement of foundation literacy teaching and learning materials for primary one, fabrication and distribution of 2-seater pupils/students’ furniture and safe schools initiative in some selected local governments, among others,” he said.
Adaramaja said that the governor had equally approved the payment of 2025 counterpart funds for the UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects.
He urged contractors, who would get the jobs, to execute them in line with the specifications, warning that shoddy jobs would not be condoned.
Adaramaja lauded the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Hajiya Aisha Garba and other key stakeholders for contributing to the success of the programme.
Responding on behalf of the bidders, Alhaji Maroof Ahmed, who is the Secretary to the Indigenous Contractors Association, thanked the government for allowing them to showcase their talents.
He pledged that their members would deliver quality services and would not let the government and the people of the state down. (Punch)
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