Kwara State has recently found itself in the eye of the storm following a surge in attacks by unrelenting bandits and kidnappers, particularly in the northern and southern parts of the state, despite ongoing efforts by the government to restore peace and security.
Out of the state’s 16 local government areas, five—Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Ilorin South, Asa, and Moro—have largely remained unaffected by the wave of insecurity. Offa and Oyun local governments have also been relatively calm. However, the remaining nine local governments scattered across the northern and southern regions have come under a siege of killings, kidnappings, and terror.
Reliable sources told Sunday Vanguard that the perpetrators, mostly herdsmen from Zamfara and Sokoto states, infiltrated Kwara through Niger State and have been operating in collaboration with some local informants. These bandits are said to be entrenched in thick forests in both the northern and southern parts of the state, where they have reportedly lived for nearly 30 years.
Over time, these forest dwellers, working with local accomplices, allegedly embraced kidnapping as a lucrative venture, having realized it provided a faster means of making money. This, sources said, turned many of them into overnight millionaires.
Cases of abductions and killings first emerged about four years ago in Edu, Patigi, Baruten, and Kaiama local governments, before spreading to other parts of the state.
In Edu Local Government alone, multiple attacks were recorded in recent months. Armed bandits abducted a woman in Kpanpkanragi village in August, while four people were kidnapped in Gamalegi village around the same period. Lataworo community also suffered a brutal attack that forced residents to flee. In Tsaragi, bandits kidnapped a prominent businessman, and in Bokungi village, a newlywed was killed and hundreds of cows stolen.
Similar incidents have occurred in Kaiama, where farmers have been attacked and abducted on their farms.
In August, six people were kidnapped in Motokun and Agboro communities in Patigi, leaving six others with gunshot wounds. The wave of insecurity later spread to Kwara South. In September, two persons were abducted in Babanla community, Ifelodun Local Government, just days after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s visit.
Over 90 percent of families of abductees in Kwara have been forced to pay huge sums as ransom, according to investigations. Many families have raised hundreds of millions of naira collectively to free their loved ones, fueling a cycle of extortion and financial ruin.
“No sane person would fold his arms when kidnappers demand ransom to free their loved ones,” said Emmanuel Ayeoribe, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kwara State. “Many lives and businesses have been ruined in the process of securing the release of friends and relatives. It’s unfortunate in a country where the government is supposed to protect its citizens.”
Despite growing frustration, the Kwara State government insists it has not been passive. Governor AbdulRazaq has provided logistics support including vehicles and motorcycles—to aid security agencies. He has also repeatedly called for increased military presence in volatile areas.
Security forces, including the police, military, and local vigilantes, have conducted joint operations to rescue abducted victims. However, several others remain in captivity.
In the face of mounting challenges, the government took tough decisions to mitigate risk, including the closure of cattle markets in Kwara South and the relocation of the NYSC Orientation Camp from Yikpata in Edu Local Government to Ilorin. The 2025 Medical and Surgical Outreach was also moved from Oke-Ode to Omupo following persistent attacks.
The most recent and shocking incident occurred last Sunday in Oke-Ode, where suspected bandits killed no fewer than 11 forest guards and a community leader. Reports alleged that the assailants took advantage of the withdrawal of ammunition from the forest guards by the Department of State Services (DSS), a claim the government denied.
A survivor, identified as Ajetunmobi, accused the government of negligence. “We heard about the planned attack since Saturday night and alerted the authorities. Yet, no reinforcements came. The government failed in its duty to protect us,” he lamented.
A viral video following the attack showed a distraught woman mourning her husband and his brother, accusing the DSS of disarming local vigilantes prior to the assault.
However, the state government dismissed the allegations. In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaiye, the government described the claim as false and “demoralising.”
“We pray to God to console the bereaved woman and others, but her claim is not true,” Ajakaiye said. “This clarification, however, does not in any way delegitimise her grief.”
On Tuesday, the Nigerian Air Force reportedly conducted coordinated airstrikes along the Kwara–Kogi border, killing several terrorists, including a notorious kidnap kingpin known as Maiwada.
NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed that “multiple coordinated missions” were executed across Kakihun, Oke-Ode, Babanla, and surrounding areas. “Hostile elements sighted east of Babanla were decisively engaged,” he said, adding that surveillance flights gathered intelligence to support ground troops.
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