Residents of Kwara South on Friday staged a protest to express growing anger and fear over worsening insecurity in the region, calling for immediate government action amid increasing cases of killings, kidnappings, and displacement.
The demonstrators, operating under the Kwara South Development Forum, said armed groups have continued to launch coordinated attacks on communities, overwhelming local security arrangements, including vigilante efforts.
Speaking during the protest, the forum’s convener, Obashola Ayomide Ridwan, said the situation had become unbearable, forcing residents to publicly demand urgent intervention.
He stated that many families have lost loved ones, while others have been kidnapped and several schools shut down due to the security challenges.
“We have lost our mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers to killings and kidnappings in Kwara South,” he said.
He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to step in urgently by strengthening security operations and supporting local vigilante groups.
Other protesters shared accounts of repeated attacks, saying entire communities have been abandoned as residents flee for safety.
A resident, Adebisi Jimoh, said villages such as Babanla and surrounding areas have been largely deserted due to persistent violence.
“Our community is empty now. Many people have been forced to leave their homes,” he said.
Another protester, Sodiq Amidu, alleged that some kidnapping victims were only released after large ransom payments, while others were not as fortunate.
Residents also noted that insecurity has severely affected economic activities, forcing the closure of schools and abandonment of farmlands.
Reports show that local government areas such as Ifelodun, Ekiti, Oke-Ero, and Irepodun have recorded frequent incidents of attacks and abductions in recent weeks.
The protesters appealed to traditional leaders and government authorities to take coordinated and decisive action, warning that continued neglect could deepen the humanitarian situation in the region.
They further called for increased deployment of security personnel, intelligence-driven operations, and stronger support for local vigilante groups to restore peace and stability.
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