By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Senator representing Kwara South, Oyelola Ashiru, says at least 142 persons have been kidnapped and over 70 killed in the last 12 months across Kwara South, with no fewer than 25 communities deserted due to recurring attacks.
Ashiru added that no fewer than 12 forest guards and vigilante members were killed in an ambush by armed bandits, including traditional and community leaders in several Local Government Areas across Kwara South.
The lawmaker disclosed these while moving a motion entitled, ‘Urgent Need to Address Insecurity in Kwara South Senatorial District, Particularly Ifelodun Local Government Area: Call for
Immediate and Comprehensive Federal Intervention,’ on Wednesday, October 8.
Ashiru, while decrying the worsening insecurity in his constituency and calling for urgent federal intervention, stated that “within the last month, no fewer than 12 forest guards and local vigilante members were killed in an ambush by armed bandits in Oke-Ode, including Baale of Ogba-Ayo community, and several other traditional and community leaders were among those slain in separate incidents in Babanla, Sagbe, Oro Ago, Ganmu-Alheri, etc., in Ifelodun, Isin,
Ekiti and Oke Ero Local Government Areas.
“At least 142 persons have been kidnapped and over 70 killed in the last twelve months across Kwara South, with no fewer than 25 communities deserted due to recurring attacks—leading to
severe humanitarian displacement and disruption of social and economic life.
“Farms have been abandoned, roads have become unsafe, local economies are paralysed, and schools have closed, thereby worsening poverty and increasing youth vulnerability to crime,” he said.
The lawmaker stressed that if the insecurity in Kwara South is not urgently addressed, it poses a potential threat to national stability, as it could spread to other states in the North-Central
and South-West geopolitical zones.
Ashiru added that most local security volunteers have been overwhelmed as they “lack adequate equipment, mobility, protection, or insurance, yet continue to sacrifice their lives in defence of their communities.”
Deliberations on the floor of the Senate were dominated by discussions on the worsening security situation in the country, as senators shared the poor security situation in their constituencies.
While adopting Ashiru’s motion, the Senate urged the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in Kwara South, particularly near the forest belts of Ifelodun Local Government Area, to serve as a rapid response hub.
The lawmakers also mandated the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to deploy additional troops and special units to
comb the forests for bandits.
They further directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately provide humanitarian relief to displaced persons in the affected areas and urged the government
to compensate the families of forest guards and vigilantes who lost their lives.
The Senate also instructed security agencies to identify and prosecute local collaborators aiding the bandits’ operations and mandated its Committees on Defence, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the affected communities within two weeks.
The Minister of Defence, Chief of Army Staff, and Inspector-General of Police were also invited to brief lawmakers on coordinated federal responses.
