Residents of Omugo community in Oro-Ago District, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have fled their homes following fears of another terrorist attack, leaving behind only vigilantes and local hunters to safeguard abandoned properties.
The mass exodus comes in the wake of a recent attack in which gunmen stormed a church and abducted eight elderly worshippers. The incident occurred about 18 days ago at an Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) during a Sunday service, throwing the quiet community into panic.
Speaking at a press conference in Ilorin, spokesperson for concerned residents, Jimoh Olaitan, described the situation as dire, noting that the community has been largely deserted. According to him, the absence of security personnel has worsened fears among residents, despite the presence of a police post in the area.
“Omugo community is deserted. People are leaving in large numbers. At the moment, only vigilantes and hunters remain to protect properties. We have a police post, but there are no officers stationed there,” he said.
Olaitan appealed to the state government to urgently restore security to enable displaced residents to return to their homes and resume normal activities. He also called for coordinated intervention by security agencies to secure the safe release of the abducted victims.
According to him, the abductors initially demanded a ransom of ₦1 billion but later reduced it to ₦150 million. However, he noted that the amount remains far beyond what the victims’ families and the community can afford.
He warned that the attack marks the third such incident in the area within six months, describing it as a growing threat to the safety and survival of residents.
“This is not just a security breach; it is a direct attack on our faith, dignity, and right to exist,” Olaitan added.
The community urged federal, state, and local authorities to launch an intelligence-driven rescue operation, deploy security personnel to the area, and establish a permanent joint task force base to prevent further attacks.
