Kwara North Elders Warn APC, Says It’s ‘Impossible To Campaign’ In Region Ravaged By Over 1,200 K!llings
Kwara North Elders Warn APC, Says It’s ‘Impossible To Campaign’ In Region Ravaged By Over 1,200 Killings
In a statement issued on Tuesday and jointly signed by its National President, Alhaji Abdullahi Manzuma, and Publicity Secretary, Hajia Zainab Seko, the group disclosed that more than 1,200 people have been killed by terrorists and armed bandits in recent years, while hundreds of others remain in captivity across various communities in the senatorial district.
Prominent elders and stakeholders from Kwara North Senatorial District under the aegis of the Kwara North Development Commission (KNDC) have raised the alarm over an unprecedented wave of killings, kidnappings and terrorist attacks across the region, warning that the worsening insecurity has made political mobilisation for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) nearly impossible ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and jointly signed by its National President, Alhaji Abdullahi Manzuma, and Publicity Secretary, Hajia Zainab Seko, the group disclosed that more than 1,200 people have been killed by terrorists and armed bandits in recent years, while hundreds of others remain in captivity across various communities in the senatorial district.
According to the stakeholders, the security situation has deteriorated to a level where political actors would struggle to persuade traumatised residents to participate in partisan campaigns or offer support to the ruling party.
“It will be difficult to campaign to people whose loved ones have been murdered, whose family members are still in captivity and whose livelihoods have been destroyed by insecurity,” the group said.
“You cannot expect a mother who lost her son to bandit attacks or a farmer who can no longer access his farmland because of terrorists to be interested in political campaigns. Right now, survival is the concern of our people.”
The KNDC further lamented that the crisis has spread across all five local government areas of Kwara North, Baruten, Kaiama, Edu, Patigi and Moro, leaving many communities deserted as residents flee ancestral homes in search of safety.
The stakeholders said the once-thriving agricultural belt of Kwara State, widely regarded as one of the state’s major food-producing regions, is now rapidly declining as farmers abandon their farmlands due to fear of attacks.
“Our people are living in fear. Entire villages have been sacked by armed groups. More than 1,200 lives have been lost while many others are still being held by kidnappers and terrorists,” it said.
“The economy of the region has virtually collapsed. Farmers cannot safely cultivate their lands, traders are afraid to come into our communities and economic activities have been severely disrupted.”
The group added that the impact of the insecurity has gone beyond economic collapse, noting that it is now affecting social cohesion, cultural life, and traditional community engagements across the district.
According to them, many indigenes who traditionally return home during festive periods have been forced to stay away due to fears of being attacked or abducted.
“For the first time in our history, many of our sons and daughters chose not to come home during festive celebrations because they were afraid of attacks. That tells you how serious the situation has become,” it said.
While acknowledging efforts by the Kwara State Government to respond to the crisis, the stakeholders insisted that the primary responsibility for securing lives and property rests with the Federal Government.
“We recognise that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is doing what he can within the limits of his constitutional powers. However, security remains the responsibility of the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief,” the group said.
“This is no longer a local security challenge. It is a national emergency that requires urgent federal intervention.”
The KNDC warned that unless immediate and decisive action is taken to restore peace and security in Kwara North, the APC risks facing deep political backlash from communities who feel abandoned in the face of sustained violence.
“Politics cannot thrive where people are under siege. It is difficult to ask people for political support when they are burying their loved ones and living under constant fear of attacks,” it said.
The stakeholders therefore made a direct appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to deploy additional security personnel and resources to the region in order to curb terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
“We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to act urgently and decisively. The people of Kwara North are not asking for special treatment; they are asking for security, justice and the right to live in peace,” it said.
They further stressed that restoring security in the region would not only save lives but also revive agricultural production and economic activities critical to both Kwara State’s food supply and Nigeria’s broader food security framework.
“The quickest way to rebuild confidence in government and restore faith in the APC is to secure our communities and allow our people to return to their farms and normal lives,” it said.
