Kwara State Govt. Orders Temporary Closure Of Schools Following Recent Bandit Attacks
The Kwara State government has ordered the temporary closure of schools in five local government areas over bandit attacks in the state.
This comes after bandits attacked a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku in Ekiti local government area of Kwara State
The attack on Tuesday, November 18, claimed the lives of three people, while thirty-eight (38) worshipers were abducted.
Ibraheem Abdullateef, senior special assistant on communications to the Kwara State Government, confirmed the closure of schools in 5 LGA’s in the state.
The affected local governments include Ifelodun, Ekiti, Irepodun, Isin, and Oke Ero.
Abdullateef said the decision follows the worrisome security crisis in these parts of the state.
According to him, the schools will be reopened as soon as the government receives security clearance for their operation. In his words:
“The combined security forces have started operations to restore calm and strengthen peace and safety in the affected communities. The situation is being monitored closely.
“As much as qualitative learning, we are invested in creating a safer environment for schoolchildren.”
On Tuesday, November 18, gunmen stormed the church while the members were holding a service and carried out an attack. Five persons were killed while 38 of the members were abducted.
Giving update on the incident yesterday, Leadership reports that the kidnappers have started contacting the families of the victims and they have placed N100 ransom on the head of each abductees.
A community leader and Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun whose four relatives were among the kidnapped victims confirmed this development on Thursday, November 20.
Olukotun, who said he was in the church with five of his family members when the incident occurred, said he and one of his wards escaped the attack around 6:06 p.m through the church’s window.
He confirmed that the kidnappers have made contact with the people of the community and are demanding N100m as ransom on each of the 38 victims.
“From what we gathered from the kidnappers camp, they (kidnappers) have grouped the victims according to their relations and are now calling our people through each of the group.
Some people in the community have received calls from the kidnappers demanding N100m for each person but as regard my own people I have not receive any call concerning them, so I am still waiting,”
he said.