Fresh concerns have emerged over escalating insecurity in Kwara State, with the Kwara South Development Forum accusing authorities of failing to protect residents from a surge of violent attacks.
In a statement on Tuesday, signed by its acting Speaker, Obashola Ayomide Ridwan, the forum said killings, kidnappings, and displacements have become increasingly frequent across the region, affecting traditional leaders, worshippers, and ordinary residents.
The forum recalled the killing of the traditional ruler of Koro town, Segun Aremu-Cole, in February 2024, and the abduction of Oba Bayagan in Ifelodun Local Government Area. More recently, on January 1, 2026, the Oniwo of Afin, Simeon Olanipekun, and one of his sons were abducted in the Ile-Ire district.
Places of worship have also been targeted, with reports of kidnappings at churches in Eruku and Omugo. Many families have reportedly sold property to pay ransoms, though several victims remain in captivity.
The forum highlighted the struggles of local vigilantes, who have suffered casualties while defending their communities. “Our local vigilantes have become victims of insecurity themselves. Many have been killed confronting terrorists armed with sophisticated weapons like AK-47 rifles,” the statement said, citing recent deaths in Oke Oyan and last year in Ìgbàjá.
Alleging lapses by security agencies, the forum said advance warnings of possible attacks in three local government areas were ignored. “We are aggrieved residents who feel neglected. Our people have been kidnapped repeatedly, and many are still in the captivity of terrorists because ransom has not yet been paid,” the statement noted.
Calling for urgent intervention, the forum urged both state and federal authorities to reinforce security in the region and provide support for community-based defence groups. “Our local vigilantes are always ready to defend our ancestral land, but they lack weapons, mobility, and modern gadgets required to confront terrorists,” Ridwan said.
The group warned that without immediate action, the wave of violence could force more residents to abandon their homes, exacerbating the humanitarian situation in Kwara South.