Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi has urged residents of Kwara State to remain united in the face of escalating violence, following a string of terrorist attacks that have unsettled the region in recent days.

A viral video on Tuesday showed armed men attacking a church in the state, leaving three people dead and kidnapping the pastor along with several worshippers.

In a separate incident, gunmen ambushed travelers along the Ilorin, Kabba road, further heightening public anxiety and fuelling widespread outrage across social media.

Awoniyi appeals for harmony

Awoniyi, a proud native of Kwara and founder of a charity operating in the state, addressed the situation via Instagram on Wednesday. He reiterated Kwara’s long-held reputation as The State of Harmony and called for restraint and unity.

“The State of Harmony is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria… Peace shall reign,” he wrote. “Kwara State stands for peace and that’s what we will stand for.”

Security concerns extend beyond public figures

While Awoniyi’s voice carries significant influence at home and abroad, the crisis remains far larger than any individual.

Once concentrated primarily in Nigeria’s northern region, terrorist activities have now spread to several states, exposing systemic gaps in national security operations.

Successive administrations have struggled to contain the threat, often downplaying these attacks as the work of “bandits” despite their increasingly coordinated and violent nature.

The expectation across the country is clear: the government must take decisive action to stem the attacks and protect vulnerable communities before more innocent lives are lost.