Kwara North Elders Report More Than 1,200 Casualties from Banditry Under Tinubu's Administration

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Prominent elders and stakeholders from Kwara North Senatorial District, operating under the Kwara North Development Commission (KNDC), have reported that at least 1,200 people have been killed and hundreds more remain captive in the district since President Bola Tinubu took office in 2023.

The group warned that without urgent and decisive action to restore security, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) risks losing the goodwill and political support of the populace ahead of the 2027 general election.

In a statement released on Tuesday, signed by KNDC National President Alhaji Abdullahi Manzuma and Publicity Secretary Hajia Zainab Seko, the elders described the region’s security situation as a “near‑total collapse.” They accused the Tinubu administration of failing to stop the escalating wave of banditry and terrorism.

The statement said the crisis has devastated communities across the five local government areas of Baruten, Kaiama, Edu, Patigi, and Moro, leaving residents displaced, farms abandoned, and economic activity crippled.

Once regarded as Kwara State’s food basket, the area has become a shadow of itself due to relentless attacks by armed groups roaming the vast rural territories.

“Our people are living in fear. Entire communities have been sacked. More than 1,200 lives have been lost and many of our sons, daughters, wives and husbands are still being held captive by terrorists and bandits,” the statement read.

“The economy of the region has been grounded. Agriculture, which is the mainstay of our people, has suffered immensely. Farmers can no longer access their farmlands safely, while buyers and traders are unwilling to come into the region because of security concerns. As a result, farm produce is wasting away.”

The group acknowledged the efforts of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration to address the challenge but maintained that ultimate responsibility for securing lives and property lies with the Federal Government.

The statement said: “We recognize that the Kwara State Government is doing its best within the limits of its constitutional powers. However, the buck stops on the table of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Commander‑in‑Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is no longer a local challenge. What we are witnessing is a national security emergency that requires decisive federal intervention.”

The stakeholders expressed concern that the worsening situation is altering long‑standing social and cultural traditions in the region. Many indigenes who normally return home during festive periods have chosen to stay away out of fear of attacks.

The group added: “For the first time in our history, many of our children refused to come home during the last festive celebrations because they were afraid for their safety. This is unprecedented and speaks volumes about the gravity of the situation. We are a peace‑loving agrarian people. Our people do not deserve this level of suffering and neglect.”

The group warned that without urgent action to restore security and confidence, political leaders will find it difficult to mobilize support for the ruling party ahead of future elections.

“It will be very difficult to begin to campaign to people who are under siege, to mothers who have lost their children, and to fathers who can no longer provide for their families because their means of livelihood have been destroyed. Politics cannot thrive where people are struggling simply to stay alive,” it said.

The group therefore appealed directly to President Tinubu to deploy all necessary security resources to the area and ensure that communities are protected from terrorists and criminal elements.

“We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the father of the nation, to rise to this challenge and take immediate steps to protect our communities from terrorism and banditry. The people of Kwara North have always been loyal to the APC‑led government and patriotic citizens of Nigeria. What they seek is not charity, but security, justice and the opportunity to live and work in peace,” the group noted.

It said that restoring security in the region would not only save lives but also revive agricultural production and economic activities critical to the food security of both Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole.