A Call For Peace | Condemning The Scourge Of Terrorism In Nigeria

By Sir Avian Odia Eromonsele, Global President, Aviary Club of Nigeria

As Global President of the Aviary Club of Nigeria, a non-profit organization devoted to community service, conservation, and fostering unity across our great nation and beyond, I am compelled to speak out against the escalating wave of violence undermining the stability of our country. Since our founding in 1996, the Aviary Club has been committed to charitable outreach, including medical missions, orphanage support, and educational assistance. Today, we reaffirm our core values of peace, harmony, and the protection of all citizens, regardless of age, faith, or background.

It is with deep sorrow that we condemn the recent acts of terrorism that have brought grief to countless families and fear to entire communities.

Nigeria, a nation blessed with remarkable diversity and resilience, continues to face brutal attacks from terrorist organizations and armed criminal groups. In 2025 alone, these threats have intensified dramatically. According to global monitoring bodies, extremist factions such as Boko Haram and ISWAP have escalated their campaigns, resulting in daily assaults on civilians, security personnel, and public institutions.

This rising insecurity erodes national cohesion, weakens public trust, and threatens the very foundation of our collective progress.

Particularly horrifying are the recent tragedies in Kwara State and surrounding regions. Days ago, gunmen invaded the Christ Apostolic Church in Oke Isegun, Kwara State, during a worship service. At least two worshippers were killed and 38 others, including the pastor, were abducted. The attackers reportedly demanded a ransom of ₦100 million, leaving the community devastated and forcing congregations to worship under the shadow of mourning.

This violent desecration of a house of worship is not an isolated occurrence but part of a disturbing pattern of targeted attacks on faith communities nationwide.

Equally distressing is the surge in mass abductions of schoolchildren, an assault on the very future of our nation. In one of the most shocking incidents in recent years, more than 300 students and 12 teachers were taken from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State. Although about fifty students managed to flee, the fate of the remaining victims remains uncertain, and their families endure unimaginable agony. Many of these children come from vulnerable backgrounds and were targeted simply because they sought education in a faith-based institution.

Reports indicate that over 180 schoolchildren have been killed in attacks this year alone. The proximity of these incidents to Kwara State highlights the expanding reach of terrorism, demanding urgent national and regional action.

These attacks are not random crimes, they are calculated acts of terror intended to instill fear, sow division, and destabilize Nigeria. The Aviary Club of Nigeria, rooted in unity and symbolized by the resilient flight of birds, denounces these atrocities unequivocally. Through our community-based programs, Annual global Converges in different part of Nigeria, we have witnessed firsthand how insecurity disrupts communal life, threatens charitable missions, and deepens the vulnerability of the very people we strive to uplift.

We therefore call on the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intensify all efforts to curb terrorism and violent extremism. Strengthened security presence, enhanced intelligence collaboration, community policing, and improved protection of schools and places of worship are critical steps. International partners, including nations such as the United States, which has voiced concern over targeted religious violence, must provide support that respects Nigeria’s sovereignty while reinforcing its capacity to safeguard its citizens.

Just as importantly, religious leaders, civil society organizations, community elders, and everyday Nigerians must rise above division and promote dialogue, cooperation, and unity across ethnic and faith boundaries.

The Aviary Club of Nigeria remains unwavering in its mission of charity, conservation, and social harmony. We will continue to champion medical outreach, educational support, and community engagement, but these efforts can only thrive in an atmosphere free from fear.

Let us remember that, like birds in coordinated flight, our greatest strength lies in unity. Together, we can rise above this darkness and reclaim lasting peace for Nigeria.

ACN Media

Aviary Club of Nigeria

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