Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has called for peace in Kwara State following multiple terrorist attacks in the last few days, Soccernet.ng reports.
On Tuesday, a viral video circulated showing an attack on a church in Kwara State. According to reports, three people were killed, and the pastor along with several other members of the church were kidnapped.
In a related development, a group of travelers and residents were ambushed by armed gunmen along the Ilorin-Kabba road.
These attacks, along with many others, have caused a significant uproar in the Nigerian social media space.
They come on the heels of a recent warning from former President Donald Trump that the United States of America would use its army to intervene in what it perceives as the killing of Christians in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles striker Awoniyi has lent his voice to the issue. Awoniyi hails from Kwara State, where he grew up and where his foundation is based.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday afternoon, Awoniyi called for peace in the state, reiterating its slogan as “The State of Harmony.”
“The State of Harmony is one of the most peaceful state in Nigeria, reflecting the peaceful coexistence among one another with different religions and beliefs. Peace shall reign,” Awoniyi wrote.
“Kwara State stand for peace and that’s what will stand for”
Will Taiwo Awoniyi’s Statement Stop The Kwara State Attacks?
Unfortunately for Taiwo Awoniyi, his comments are unlikely to effect much change, if any. Although he is currently one of Nigeria’s biggest football stars and one of the most influential men in Kwara State, the issue is beyond his scope.
For a long time, terrorist attacks were primarily concentrated in the North, but they are now spreading to other parts of Nigeria.
Regrettably, the government has failed to curtail them. In fact, these terrorists have often been misbranded as “bandits,” when in reality, they have been carrying out genuine terrorist attacks.
It is hoped that the government will tackle these security problems head-on and save innocent people from losing their lives.