₦airaland Forum

Some Of The Bandits Terrorising Kwara Communities, Burning Villages, Kidnapping People Are Not Nigerians —Community Leader


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

No fewer than 3,000 residents of 15 communities in Babanla town in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have reportedly fled over incessant attacks by suspected kidnappers and bandits.

SaharaReporters had reported that hours after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area on Saturday to reassure residents of improved security, suspected bandits abducted two people in the area.

The governor visited the area to reassure residents and restore a sense of security amid ongoing fears of banditry and kidnappings.

Speaking in an interview on Channels TV on Tuesday, Ibiwoye painted a grim picture of fear, mass displacement, and government abandonment in several local communities that have come under repeated attacks by gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits.

According to him, testimonies from victims who have spent days in captivity confirm that the attackers are mostly Fulani, with some speaking languages not native to Nigeria.

“Those who have been kidnapped spend time with them. They hear the kinds of languages they speak. They can identify them by their facial appearance. In some cases, some of these people are not even Nigerians. But they have entered our communities and are operating freely. On a particular day, for instance, bandits numbering close to 100 attacked Babanla on motorcycles, shooting sporadically into the air.

“They kidnapped some people, including the monarch's wife. They shot vigilante members, burned their vehicles, and even set some of them ablaze. In this community, we have not seen any meaningful government response,” he said.

He recalled how close to 100 heavily armed bandits stormed Babanla community on motorcycles, shooting sporadically to scare residents before abducting villagers.

During that attack, the monarch’s wife was kidnapped, vigilante members were shot, patrol vehicles were burnt, and some defenders were set ablaze.

Despite the scale of violence, Ibiwoye accused the Kwara State Government of doing nothing meaningful to secure lives or bring relief to traumatised residents.

“The governor did not visit. The government has not provided help in terms of logistics or relief. When the Commissioner of Police and the State Director of DSS visited one of the communities, they did not find a single soul there. Everyone had fled,” he said.

The situation, he explained, has triggered mass displacement across Kwara South.

“Because all of our communities are closely knit, when there’s an attack in one community, the ripple effect spreads to others. Today, almost 16 communities in the area are deserted. Everyone has run to Ilorin because their safety is no longer guaranteed,” he said.

“The markets are closed. The farms have been abandoned. This has grave social and economic consequences. We are not producing anything anymore. People are not earning money to even stay alive.”

Ibiwoye further dismissed suggestions that local leaders had remained silent in the face of rising insecurity. He stressed that communities have continuously raised their voices, contributed resources, and supported vigilantes, but the burden is simply overwhelming.

“Every time somebody is kidnapped, the state government doesn’t respond. It is the communities and good-spirited individuals that raise the money to pay ransom and secure their release. We are the ones paying hospital bills of victims. We’ve bought motorcycles, patrol vehicles, and fuel for vigilantes. That’s what we can do as individuals. But the primary responsibility for securing lives and property belongs to government,” he said.

He gave examples of community-driven interventions, which sent high-powered delegations with cash and relief to commiserate with affected families after deadly attacks in Kwara South. Former Senate President Bukola Saraki was also mentioned as one of the few political leaders who have sent delegations, money, and logistics to displaced victims in Kwara South.

“What we have seen is that our people are the ones supporting themselves while the government looks away,” he lamented.

The community leader, who previously served as a Special Adviser in the Kwara State Government, expressed shock at the failure of the current administration under Governor AbdulRazaq to coordinate security agencies or take proactive measures.

“While I was in government, there were regular security meetings where the governor, as chief security officer, coordinated with security agencies to take preemptive steps before these crises escalated. But today, the system has collapsed. What is happening is nothing short of leadership failure,” Ibiwoye declared.

He warned that unless urgent steps are taken, the entire Kwara South could descend into lawlessness, leaving communities permanently deserted and deepening poverty across the region.

“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.

madridguy:
According to him, testimonies from victims who have spent days in captivity confirm that the attackers are mostly Fulani, with some speaking languages not native to Nigeria.

But when Nigeria government arrest them, instead of them to rock them to sleep, they will keep them and be feeding them. We are not ready to tackle fulani herdsmen problem yet.

madridguy:
According to him, testimonies from victims who have spent days in captivity confirm that the attackers are mostly Fulani, with some speaking languages not native to Nigeria.

But when Nigeria government arrest them, instead of them to rock them to sleep, they will keep them and be feeding them. We are not ready to tackle fulani herdsmen problem yet.

iwaeda:
https://saharareporters.com/2025/08/26/some-bandits-terrorising-kwara-communities-burning-villages-kidnapping-people-are-not

iwaeda:
https://saharareporters.com/2025/08/26/some-bandits-terrorising-kwara-communities-burning-villages-kidnapping-people-are-not

madridguy:
According to him, testimonies from victims who have spent days in captivity confirm that the attackers are mostly Fulani, with some speaking languages not native to Nigeria.

But when Nigeria government arrest them, instead of them to rock them to sleep, they will keep them and be feeding them. We are not ready to tackle fulani herdsmen problem yet.

dederocs:
Once you declare sharia, you are telling terrorists all over the region that a caliphate is here for them, terrorists jihadists will flood in.

I pity yoruba muslims, just following without knowing depths of what they do.