Anxiety and outrage grip Kwara as residents stage protests over escalating insecurity
In response to a growing spate of murders, kidnappings, and community displacement, Kwara South residents staged a protest on Friday in the streets out of fear and rage over growing insecurity, calling for immediate government action. Under the auspices of the Kwara South Development Forum, the demonstrators denounced what they called a worsening security crisis, claiming that armed groups have persisted in carrying out coordinated attacks, overpowering local communities and undermining the security systems in place, especially vigilante groups.
Obashola Ayomide Ridwan, the forum’s convener, stated during the demonstration that locals were forced to take action to highlight the worsening circumstances.
“Our schools in Kwara South have been closed, and our mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers have been murdered and abducted,” he declared.
He urged Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to act immediately by bolstering local security forces and vigilante organisations.
Many towns have been abandoned because of fear and instability, according to other demonstrators who described their experiences of frequent attacks and kidnappings.
Adebisi Jimoh, a local, reported that a number of families in Babanla and neighbouring communities had left their houses due to ongoing abductions and attacks. “Our neighbourhood has been abandoned. “Many of us have been forced from our homes,” he remarked.
Sodiq Amidu, another demonstrator, claimed that while some victims were not as fortunate, others were only freed after large ransoms were paid.
Additionally, locals said that attacks have caused economic activity to be disrupted, schools to be forced to close, and farmlands to be abandoned in all impacted villages.
Results show that in recent weeks, kidnappings and violent attacks have been common in local government areas including Ifelodun, Ekiti, Oke-Ero, and Irepodun.
The demonstrators warned that if the issue is not resolved, there may be a more serious humanitarian catastrophe in the area and called on traditional leaders and government officials to act in concert.
To restore safety and stability, they advocated for more security officers to be deployed, intelligence-driven operations, and local vigilante networks to be empowered.
