Rising Insecurity in Kwara State and the North Central Region
In recent months, Kwara State has shifted from being relatively calm to facing an alarming rise in violent crimes. Once regarded as one of the safer areas in Nigeria’s North Central region, the state is now grappling with recurring incidents of banditry, kidnappings, and targeted killings.
Reports from SBM Intelligence and the International Crisis Report (ICR) show that armed groups began extending their activities into Kwara around 2020. The spread of violence mirrors the instability already witnessed in other parts of the North Central zone. Communities have been shaken by abductions at weddings, attacks on religious leaders, and clashes between Fulani and Nupe youth groups.
The figures tell a grim story. More than 60 people have reportedly lost their lives in the past two years. Analysts warn that, if nothing changes, these criminal networks could entrench themselves in ungoverned areas of the state. They could also take advantage of the porous borders with Niger, Kogi, and the Republic of Benin.
Concerns continue to mount across the region. The Idominial Professional Association has raised the alarm about rising insecurity in Kwara South. While the group acknowledged the efforts of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, it described the government’s response as slow and fragmented. The association is now calling for a stronger community-led security system. It recommends cooperation between local vigilantes, traditional rulers, and state police, supported with modern tools like drones and mobile alert systems.
Community Leaders Raise Alarm Over Banditry in Kwara South
The sense of urgency is also shared by community leaders. In a recent broadcast, Mr. Anu Ibu, a respected voice from southern Kwara, expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation.
According to him, residents of Kwara South are becoming more anxious as violence spreads across their communities. Long-standing tensions between locals and nomadic groups, often called “Boro,” have escalated into open hostilities. What once looked like fragile coexistence has now collapsed, with attacks targeting community heads, churches, and even traditional rulers.
“In some cases,” he explained, “our leaders have been forced to abandon their communities. There is even a traditional ruler who has not returned home for more than six months because of persistent threats.”
Mr. Ibu added that many of the attackers are not outsiders but familiar faces within the communities who have gradually turned hostile. He warned that without urgent and coordinated action, these violent actors will continue to exploit weak security structures. Ordinary citizens, he said, risk being left defenseless.
Security Agencies Warned of Bandit Relocation into Kwara Communities
Security concerns in Kwara State did not emerge overnight. Analysts and community leaders argue that the current crisis is the result of years of neglect and warnings that went unheeded.
As far back as 2020, intelligence reports available to both the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) indicated that armed groups fleeing military operations in Zamfara were regrouping around Bani in Kwara North. Despite these alerts, little action was taken. The result is what many residents now describe as an unprecedented wave of banditry that has pushed the state into a heightened state of fear.
Kwara had long enjoyed a reputation as a peaceful melting pot where diverse communities coexisted in relative harmony. That image is now under threat. In recent months, kidnappings have become a near-daily occurrence, with rural communities reporting raids that leave villagers traumatized and leaders displaced. Bandits, emboldened by weak resistance, now launch attacks in broad daylight, spreading fear across districts that once felt insulated from the violence ravaging neighboring states.
Government Responsibility in Protecting Citizens Amid Rising Attacks
At the center of the debate is the question of responsibility. Security experts define insecurity as a state of exposure to danger, threats, and lack of protection. For many residents, this is not a textbook definition but a daily reality.
The Nigerian Constitution gives government the primary duty of protecting lives and property. Security is often described as a shared responsibility. Yet, citizens insist that the burden falls first on the state. This includes the federal, state, and local governments working in synergy with security agencies.
What has been seen instead is a mostly reactionary approach. Authorities often respond only after attacks have taken place. Prevention is weak, and community leaders argue that this has made Kwara’s fragile security situation worse.
The frustration is strongest in Kwara South and North. Residents there accuse government officials of silence and inaction in the face of repeated attacks. With each new incident, public trust in state protection erodes further. Communities are now turning to self-help strategies such as vigilante patrols, even as they continue to call for coordinated and modern security measures.
Escalation of Banditry in Kwara South and Government Response
What began as isolated reports of insecurity in parts of Kwara North has now spread into Kwara South, leaving communities reeling from the growing wave of bandit attacks. For years, Kwara was regarded as one of the more peaceful states in Nigeria’s North Central zone, earning it the nickname “The State of Harmony.” Today, however, residents argue that the situation feels more like a state under siege.
Critics point to the rapid escalation of violence, with attacks now recorded across Kwara North, South, and even parts of Central Senatorial District. They describe a grim picture where no part of the state has been left untouched.
The state government, on its part, maintains that it is responding to the crisis. Officials insist that they are working in partnership with the federal government and security agencies, while appealing for more support to contain the threat. Yet opposition voices and community leaders remain skeptical, accusing the government of underplaying the severity of the crisis.
Communities Deserted as Bandits Spread Fear Across Kwara State
Reports from SBM Intelligence and the International Crisis Report show that bandits killed at least 60 people in Kwara over the past two years. For a state once praised for its calm, this sharp rise in violence feels deeply unsettling.
The crisis appears most severe in Ifelodun Local Government. It has now become the epicenter of attacks in Kwara South. Residents describe it as “the theater of war,” where bandits move without restriction and communities live under constant fear. Villages such as Bablad, Shagbo, Jemo, Alheri, and Okod continue to suffer repeated assaults almost every week.
As a result, many families have abandoned their homes. Entire communities now stand empty. Moreover, farmers have left their fields, traders have deserted the markets, and fear has replaced the harmony Kwara once enjoyed.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq recently visited Bablad community. He met the traditional ruler to discuss the crisis. However, critics argue that the visit achieved little. Victims explained that they received no direct support or financial help for medical care. In addition, officials failed to visit survivors in their homes or hospitals.
Community voices insist that beyond strategy, leaders must also show empathy. “We have not even seen compassion from the government,” one resident remarked. Therefore, many citizens feel abandoned and left to face the bandits alone.
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