SUNTV Global Report | March 6, 2026
Panic swept through residents of Eruku community in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State on Friday morning after suspected bandits launched a pre-dawn attack on the settlement, setting a vehicle ablaze and attempting to abduct residents.
Locals told SUNTV Global that the heavily armed gunmen stormed the community at about 5:00 a.m., firing sporadically and causing widespread fear among villagers who were just beginning their day.
A resident of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers set a vehicle on fire during the raid while residents scrambled for safety.
“Eruku is my village and this is not the first time bandits are attacking us,” the resident said. “The last time they came, they struck during a church live programme. Today again they came very early in the morning shooting and burning vehicles. We heard they wanted to kidnap people.”
According to local sources, the attack could have resulted in multiple abductions if not for the swift response of local security operatives.
A security source in the area confirmed to SUNTV Global that the attack was an attempted kidnapping operation but was successfully repelled by a joint response from vigilantes and forest guards who confronted the gunmen.
“The bandits attempted to carry out kidnappings in the community but security operatives responded quickly and forced them to retreat,” the source said.
Eruku community is located along the border between Kwara State and Kogi State, a region residents say has increasingly become vulnerable to attacks by armed criminal groups operating from nearby forests.
Security concerns have been particularly high due to the proximity of the community to areas in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, where banditry and kidnappings have reportedly intensified in recent months.
A local source warned that the growing insecurity in the Yagba axis is now spilling into neighbouring communities in Kwara.
“This is the boundary between Kogi and Kwara. Communities in Yagba West are facing serious bandit attacks where people are being killed and abducted. Now the criminals are crossing into our communities,” the source explained.
Residents say the repeated attacks have left villagers living in constant fear, with some families already considering relocating to safer areas.
Community leaders are now calling on the Kwara State Government and security agencies to urgently deploy more personnel and strengthen security presence in the border communities to prevent further attacks and restore confidence among residents.
SUNTV Global will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
