Some Of The Bandits Terrorising Kwara Communities Are Foreigners — Community Leader

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

A community leader and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Kwara State, Anu Ibiwoye, has raised alarm over the worsening insecurity in Kwara South, alleging that many of the bandits attacking communities are not Nigerians but foreign fighters who have infiltrated the state.

Mass Displacement Across Kwara South

Reports indicate that no fewer than 3,000 residents from about 15 communities in Babanla, Ifelodun Local Government Area, have fled their homes due to incessant attacks by suspected kidnappers and bandits. Akahi News learnt that the crisis has forced markets to shut down, farmlands to be abandoned, and entire communities deserted as families run to Ilorin in search of safety.

Ibiwoye recounted how close to 100 heavily armed bandits stormed Babanla community on motorcycles, shooting indiscriminately and abducting villagers, including the monarch’s wife. Vigilante members were shot, patrol vehicles were burnt, and some defenders set ablaze.

“This is no longer about politics. Our people are suffering. Families are being destroyed. Communities are emptying out. Bandits have taken over. And if government continues to fold its arms, we may completely lose our villages to criminals who are not even Nigerians,” he warned.

Victims Confirm Foreign Fighters Among Bandits

Speaking during an interview on Channels TV, Ibiwoye insisted that testimonies from kidnap victims confirmed that the attackers are mostly Fulani, with some speaking languages alien to Nigeria.

“Those who have been kidnapped spend days with them and can identify their languages and facial features. Some of these people are not even Nigerians, yet they have entered our communities and are operating freely,” he said.

Government Criticised For Inaction

The community leader accused the Kwara State Government of failing to respond meaningfully to the plight of residents. He noted that while communities and individuals have been raising funds to pay ransoms, buy patrol vehicles, fuel vigilante operations, and even settle hospital bills, the government has not provided significant relief.

“When the Commissioner of Police and the DSS Director visited one of the communities, they found no one there because everyone had fled. The governor has not provided logistics or relief to victims. This is a total failure of leadership,” Ibiwoye declared.

He added that while former Senate President Bukola Saraki and other stakeholders have sent delegations and support to displaced victims, the state government has allegedly abandoned its primary duty of protecting lives and property.

Urgent Call To Action

Ibiwoye, a former Special Adviser in the Kwara State Government, lamented the collapse of proactive security measures. He warned that if urgent steps are not taken, the entire Kwara South could descend into lawlessness, with long-term consequences for peace and economic survival in the state.

“Today, almost 16 communities in the area are deserted. People are not producing food anymore. They are not earning money to survive. If nothing changes, we may permanently lose our villages to foreign bandits,” he stressed.

Akahi News
http://www.akahinews.org