The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Kwara State has raised concerns over what it described as a growing wave of kidnappings and killings affecting communities in the state’s southern senatorial district.

The church called on authorities to take urgent and proactive measures to restore peace following a series of attacks on rural communities.

Its concerns followed a recent incident in Oyatedo, where suspected kidnappers reportedly killed an ECWA member, Omoniyi Ajise, and abducted his wife along with four other residents.

The attack occurred on Wednesday while ECWA district council leaders were holding a security meeting in Omu-Aran to discuss rising insecurity across the area.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, Chairman of the ECWA Joint District Church Councils Forum in the state, Samuel Adewumi, and Secretary Joseph Agboluaje said the situation had become increasingly alarming for residents.

They also cited an earlier kidnapping in Ahun, where two elderly residents identified as Dada and Ishola were abducted but later released because of their advanced age.

According to the church leaders, frequent attacks have forced many farmers to abandon their fields during the peak cashew harvesting season, a key source of livelihood for residents.

They added that several ECWA churches in affected communities have been shut down as members fled for safety, leaving some pastors without congregations and disrupting economic and social activities.

The church urged the Federal Government, the Kwara State Government and security agencies to intensify operations to protect lives and property in the affected areas.

However, spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the command was unaware of the reported incidents, noting that no official complaint had been filed.