Ijebu-Ife, Ogun State — The fragile calm in parts of Ogun State has been shattered by a wave of attacks reportedly carried out by suspected Islamic extremists, leaving residents of Christian communities in fear and mourning.
On Friday, August 8, 2025, Mrs. Afolake Omolara Amoda, a 46-year-old mother of three, woke up to another day of uncertainty at her home on 10 Mission Road, Ijebu-Ife. Like many residents, her life has been marked by growing anxiety over the escalating religiously motivated violence that has swept across the state and beyond.
Her three children — Ayomiposi (14), Ayomibowale (12), and Ayomidesola (12) — now live under constant fear of attacks after a series of gruesome killings targeting Christians in their area. The once peaceful Ijebu axis, known for its religious tolerance, has become a flashpoint of insecurity.
The most recent of such tragedies occurred on Thursday, October 10, 2025, when two residents, Mr. Joseph Agbabiaka and Mr. Tomiwa Ogunranti, were reportedly attacked by suspected extremists on their way back from an evening church program. Witnesses said the assailants, armed with machetes and local firearms, ambushed the men near a deserted junction, inflicting fatal injuries before fleeing into the nearby bushes.
Both victims were rushed to a private hospital in Ijebu-Ode, but did not survive. Their deaths have sent shockwaves through the community, sparking protests from youth groups demanding better security presence and justice for the slain.
Earlier, on September 5, 2025, a similar tragedy struck the Ijoko area of Ota, also in Ogun State. In the early hours of that day, Mrs. Rebecca Ilori, a devoted Christian evangelist, was attacked around 5:30 a.m. while preaching the gospel near her home. Eyewitnesses recounted how she was brutally assaulted by unidentified men suspected to be religious extremists.
Barely fifteen minutes later, Master Tobi Mustapha, a young boy reportedly aged 9, was caught in a related attack as he accompanied his parents to the mosque around 5:45 a.m.. Both victims were rushed to nearby hospitals but tragically succumbed to their injuries before dawn.
The two incidents, occurring within a month and across different parts of Ogun State, have deepened the sense of insecurity among residents. Religious leaders, both Christian and Muslim, have condemned the attacks, calling for unity and an end to violence in the name of religion.
Speaking on the matter, Mrs. Amoda expressed her fears, saying, “We no longer sleep with our eyes closed. Everyone is afraid — whether at home, at church, or on the street. We just want peace and protection.”
Security analysts believe these attacks reflect a disturbing spread of extremist ideology that has long plagued the Northern and Middle Belt regions of Nigeria. Once confined to areas like Borno, Plateau, and Benue States, such violence is now creeping into Southwestern Nigeria, a region previously known for relative peace and inter-religious harmony.
In recent months, reports of church burnings in parts of Oyo and Ondo States, as well as clashes between religious groups in Kwara and Niger States, have heightened fears that extremist movements are expanding their reach across regional boundaries.
Authorities in Ogun State have promised tighter security measures. A police spokesperson in Abeokuta confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that efforts are being made to apprehend the perpetrators. However, residents say little progress has been seen, and confidence in the government’s ability to protect them remains low.
As communities across the country continue to bury their dead and rebuild shattered homes, Nigerians are once again reminded of the urgent need for tolerance, vigilance, and effective policing.
For families like the Amodas and countless others, the prayer remains the same — that peace may return to their streets before fear becomes their permanent companion.
