ABUJA – The Kwara South Youth Congress (KSYC) has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Kwara State, following a surge in violent attacks that have left many communities in fear.
The call came after gunmen attacked Oke-Ode in Ifelodun Local Government Area last Sunday, killing 15 people, including a community leader. Several residents were also abducted during the raid.In an open letter to the President, the KSYC described the situation in Kwara South as worsening, saying many towns and villages are under constant threat of bandit invasions.
The group explained that since the beginning of the year, more than 200 people have been kidnapped across the region, with Ifelodun suffering repeated assaults. Communities such as Babanla, Oreke, and Ganmu Aliheri have reportedly seen residents abandon their homes out of fear.
The group traced the increasing wave of insecurity to the movement of armed groups into Kwara through northern routes earlier this year. It warned that if urgent steps are not taken, more communities could be displaced.
KSYC proposed the creation of a special security force to combat banditry and kidnapping, the relocation of military bases to affected towns, community sensitisation on security awareness, and strict punishment for convicted violent offenders.
The youth body maintained that federal intervention is the only way to prevent further loss of lives and protect rural communities already living under siege.