Kwara Insecurity: Senate Summons Defence Minister, Service Chiefs

The Senate has summoned the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. They are required to appear before lawmakers to explain the Federal Government’s coordinated response to the escalating insecurity in the Kwara South Senatorial District.

The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in the zone, particularly near the forest belts of Ifelodun Local Government Area, to serve as a rapid-response hub against the rising wave of banditry and kidnappings.

The resolutions followed a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Senator Ashiru Oyelola Yisa (Kwara South) during plenary on Wednesday.

In his lead debate, Yisa raised alarm over the escalating security crisis in the senatorial district, particularly in Ifelodun LGA, where he said bandit attacks, kidnappings, and killings have intensified in recent weeks, forcing residents to flee in droves.

“Within the last month, no fewer than twelve forest guards and local vigilante members were killed in an ambush by armed bandits in Oke-Ode, including the Baale of Ogba-Ayo community,” Yisa said.

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He added that several other traditional and community leaders had been killed in separate attacks in Babanla, Sagbe, Oro Ago, and Ganmu-Alheri, spanning Ifelodun, Isin, Ekiti, and Oke Ero LGAs.

The senator revealed grim figures highlighting the scale of the crisis.

“At least 142 persons have been kidnapped and over 70 killed in the last twelve months across Kwara South,” he stated, adding that no fewer than 25 communities have been deserted due to recurring attacks.

He warned that the attacks had caused severe humanitarian displacement and disrupted social and economic activities across the affected areas.

Following extensive debate, the Senate mandated its Committees on Defence, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the affected communities and report back within two weeks.

The lawmakers also called for the immediate deployment of more troops and special forces to clear the forests and restore peace in Kwara South.

The Senate further directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide humanitarian relief materials to displaced persons in Ifelodun and other affected LGAs.

It also urged the Federal Government to compensate families of the slain forest guards and vigilante members who died defending their communities from bandits.

The lawmakers observed a minute of silence in honour of those killed in the recent attacks.