Hundreds of residents across communities in Kwara South Senatorial District on Saturday staged a mass protest over what they described as worsening insecurity marked by frequent killings and kidnappings.
The demonstrators gathered along the Omu-Aran–Isanlu-Isin axis in the early hours, carrying placards with messages such as “Kwara South is Bleeding” and “Our Farmers Can No Longer Go to Farm.” They called on both the federal and Kwara State governments to take immediate and decisive action to address the growing wave of violent attacks.
Protesters lamented what they termed a breakdown of law and order in the district, citing recent incidents that have heightened fear among residents. Among them was a widely reported church abduction in which several worshippers were kidnapped and ransoms demanded.
Particularly affected, residents said, is the Isanlu-Isin–Omu-Aran road, which they described as increasingly dangerous, with reports of armed men stopping vehicles and abducting passengers in broad daylight.
Community leaders also raised concerns about the broader impact of the insecurity on livelihoods. They warned that farming activities, a major economic backbone of the area, are being severely disrupted as farmers fear going to their fields.
In neighboring areas of the state, residents are still grappling with the aftermath of deadly attacks earlier in the year, further fueling concerns that violence could spread deeper into Kwara South.
Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) underscores the severity of the situation, indicating a sharp rise in security-related fatalities across Kwara State over the past year.
Security analysts have suggested that increased military pressure in other northern states may be pushing armed groups into less-policed regions, including forested areas in Kwara.
Responding to the concerns, the Kwara State Police Command said it has deployed tactical and anti-kidnapping units to affected areas and is working with other security agencies and local groups to curb the violence.
The administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has also highlighted efforts such as the establishment of forest guard units and provision of operational vehicles to improve security operations. However, many residents at the protest insisted that such measures are insufficient.
“We don’t want more assurances; we want to see real security presence,” one youth leader said, noting that fear has disrupted schooling and economic activities in the area.
The protest ended peacefully, but organizers warned that further demonstrations could follow if authorities fail to implement stronger, sustained security measures in the region.