Addressing the rising spate of insecurity in Kwara state
By Muyiden Aliyu, Ilorin
Security, defined as the state of being safe and protected from danger, risk, or threat, is the bedrock of any functioning society. However, in Nigeria, the existing fault lines of religion, ethnicity, and politics are increasingly being conflated to obfuscate existential challenges, creating an atmosphere where uncertainty pervades the horizon.
In recent months, the spike in insecurity in Kwara State, traditionally known as the State of Harmony has become a cause for profound concern. The threat posed by killers and kidnappers has left many homes and families with tales of agony and sorrow. This prevailing mood of uncertainty, mistrust, and anxiety is the antithesis of a stable environment where citizens can plan for the future without fear.
Recently, Kwara has emerged as an epicenter of banditry and kidnapping, particularly in the Northern and Southern senatorial districts. In a harrowing incident in Patigi Local Government Area, bandits killed Reverend James Audu Issa of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Ekati Village. The cleric was abducted in August, with his captors initially demanding N100 million. After negotiations settled on N5 million, the bandits tragically demanded an additional N45 million and subsequently murdered the cleric before talks could resume.
Similarly, in Rani Village, also in Patigi, assailants stormed the community, shooting sporadically as residents prepared for early evening Maghrib prayers. The attack resulted in the death of one person and the abduction of two others, including the village head. These developments have thrown the community into panic, severely restricting freedom of movement and access to farmlands.
The outrage sweeping through the state was further fueled by a brutal ambush along the Ilorin-Mokwa Expressway. Gunmen, suspected to be insurgents, intercepted an 18-passenger commercial bus. The assailants dragged passengers into the surrounding bush, initiating a harrowing ordeal that lasted several days. Families of the victims recounted being subjected to psychological torture, with terrorists sending graphic photographs of the captives to enforce impossible ransom demands. This incident is not isolated; it is a profound symptom of a systemic breakdown, leaving many communities fearful that a simple journey home could end in a massacre.
Similar criminal activities have plagued Edu Local Government Area, where bandits have kidnapped and killed innocent citizens, issuing death threats to families who fail to meet ransom deadlines. The wave of violence extended to the Southern Senatorial District, specifically in Babanla, Eleyin, Baba Sango, and Oke-Ode in Ifelodun Local Government Area. Here, innocent civilians were killed or kidnapped, and scores of forest guards and vigilantes lost their lives while mounting a spirited resistance against the assailants.
The security crisis was further highlighted by the abduction of 38 members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area. These incidents underscored the imperative need for urgent action to prevent the "State of Harmony" from degenerating into a war zone.
In a swift and proactive response to stem the tide of violence, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq established a high-powered "Safer Kwara" committee aimed at midwifing alternative short-to-long-term security solutions. Headed by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi, the nine-man committee was mandated to engage exclusive stakeholders, including traditional rulers, to design a specific security strategy for the state.
In a bold collaborative move involving the state government, security agencies, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, the freedom of the 38 CAC Eruku members was secured, in addition to 23 other abductees rescued by the Nigerian Army. Governor Abdulrazaq has held series of security council meetings with commanders to review strategies for strengthening public safety and curtailing organized kidnapping gangs.
Consequently, the Nigerian Army deployed a full brigade and heavy equipment to different parts of Kwara South. Troops have been combing through communities inward Oke-Ode and Babanla. Furthermore, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Ibadan, temporarily relocated to the troubled zones in the North and South to rout criminals. These operations extended to the thick forests of Edu and Patigi, which kidnappers had used as launchpads for their cowardly attacks.
To further curtail these incursions, the State Government issued an advisory restricting movement and outdoor activities around Ekiti, Ifelodun, Isin, Oke-Ero, and Irepodun Local Government Areas. This was complemented by heightened operations in border towns along the Kogi and Kwara axis where kidnappers are believed to hibernate. Governor Abdulrazaq recently revealed that the notorious kidnapper known as "Maiwada," along with many of his foot soldiers, was eliminated in Isanlu-Isin during an engagement with joint security forces.
Demonstrating the administration's commitment to the welfare of the affected, the state provided relief and monetary support ranging between N80 million and N100 million to the next of kin of victims. During sympathy visits, the Governor reaffirmed that nowhere in Kwara would be safe for criminal elements. He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the DSS, Police, Air Force, Nigerian Army, and local community members for their support in flushing out undesirable elements.
Various stakeholders, including socio-cultural organizations, have lent their voices to the situation, urging a united front between the state and federal governments. There is a consensus that confronting this national security challenge, which has reached intolerable proportions, requires intensified intelligence-led operations. This includes the deployment of surveillance cameras, drones, and a state-of-the-art command center capable of safeguarding the lives and property of the people.