Insecurity: Declare state of emergency in Kwara – Group urges government
A group identified as Kwara Alternative has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity in Kwara State.
The group expressed deep concern over what it described as “the deepening crisis of insecurity in Kwara State which has reached a dangerous crescendo, with both Ifelodun Local Government Area and several parts of Kwara North now reeling from repeated, violent attacks.”
It noted that “Heavily armed bandits are killing, kidnapping, and displacing innocent citizens, while local security structures, especially vigilante groups, have been systematically overpowered and rendered helpless.”
In a statement issued on Saturday, Kwara Alternative lamented that “In Ifelodun, the towns of Oke-Ode, Shagbe, Oreke, and Babanla have all come under violent assaults. In Oke-Ode, a gruesome reprisal attack at Gaa Fulani claimed three lives, including one victim burnt alive, with homes razed and others injured.
“Prior to that, armed men abducted over a dozen market women and a toddler along the Ajase-Ipo/Oke-Ode road. Although some were rescued, the trauma lingers without any form of sustainable government response.
“In Shagbe, residents now live in constant terror due to frequent kidnappings, extortion, and armed robbery. Travel at night has become impossible, and many locals have fled their homes. Oreke-Oke was struck in early June when bandits attacked a mining site, killed two mobile police officers, abducted two individuals, and made away with service weapons after demanding a ransom of one billion naira.
“These incidents paint a picture of utter lawlessness, where communities are left exposed without adequate protection. The horror in Babanla is still fresh. On June 30, gunmen on motorcycles stormed the town, abducted two teenage girls, and attempted to kidnap the wife of the community’s monarch.
“The attackers fired into the air and escaped after an exchange of gunfire with local hunters. The girls remain in captivity, and fear has gripped the town.
“In Kwara North, the scale of violence is even more alarming. In Lata Nna, Kokodoko, and Gada in Edu Local Government Area, bandits ambushed local vigilantes returning from patrol, killed many, and burned their vehicles.
“Residents fled deep into the forest and neighbouring communities. On June 30, several more were injured in Gada Woro during another broad daylight attack. In Patigi Local Government, Alhaji Abdullahi Kpotun and his son were killed by bandits during a kidnap attempt in Lile village, while another man, Timothy Paul, was murdered in Mari.
“The attackers later contacted the bereaved families and demanded a ransom of N200 million.
“Markets such as Gbugbu are becoming deserted. Families are abandoning their farms, schools are closing, and the local economy is collapsing. What was once considered rural resilience is now becoming rural extinction,” the group further lamented.
Kwara Alternative stated that across all reported incidents, one consistent pattern has emerged: the local vigilante forces—the last line of defence—have been brutally overrun. Their vehicles have been set ablaze, their weapons seized, and their members either killed or injured.
“These attackers are not ragtag criminals. They operate with military precision, sophisticated arms, and unchallenged confidence.
“The time has come for honest recognition of the truth. Kwara State is not safe. It is under coordinated and widespread security collapse. The silence and half-hearted responses from those in power, especially the state government, only embolden these criminals.
“We, therefore, call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately declare a state of emergency on security in Kwara State.
“This declaration must come with the deployment of a joint task force comprising the Nigerian Army, the Police, Civil Defence, and the Department of State Services to reclaim the forests, flush out the bandits and restore order.
“There must be a full federal takeover of security operations in Edu, Patigi, Ifelodun, and other high-risk local governments. Local vigilantes and hunters should be equipped with modern weapons and tactical support, as they are most familiar with the terrain.”
The group further emphasised the need for urgent rapid response bases to be established in Oke-Ode, Lata Nna, and Gbugbu, supported by air surveillance, drone technology, and actionable intelligence. It insisted that rescue operations for those currently in captivity must begin without delay.
It also called for an immediate audit into how the criminals entered Kwara State undetected and insisted that those responsible for intelligence failures be held accountable, stressing that the Kwara State Government can no longer afford to look the other way.
“To the people of Kwara, your pain is legitimate, your fears are justified, and your resilience is inspiring. But we must not be silent. We must raise our voices, demand accountability, and press for immediate and meaningful intervention. We cannot allow our communities to descend into chaos while leaders remain passive. Our lives, our land, and our dignity are worth defending,” the group declared.
Insecurity: Declare state of emergency in Kwara – Group urges government
