Like many states in Nigeria, Kwara State has come under constant attacks by marauding terrorists and bandits killing innocent citizens and kidnapping for ransoms.

Statistics showed that more than 300 people were killed between January 2025 and February 2026 due escalating attacks in the state. Reports also noted that affected residents sought refuge in the state’s urban settlements.

Amid this situation, several security operatives – including members of the forest guard and vigilantes – had become victims of attacks with many losing their lives while resisting attacks and protecting citizens.

Despite repeated assurances by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq-led government to address the challenges, communities – once relatively peaceful – now grapple with daily terror that continues to disrupt lives and shatter livelihoods. 

The Peoples Gazette examined nine local governments in the state most ravaged by terror attacks in recent times.

Kaiama

A local government in the northern part of the state, Kaiama remains a hotbed of terrorists’ attacks with several fatalities recorded, including residents and security operatives. In an April midnight raid, bandits attacked Kemanji village and killed at least five soldiers. This came two months after terrorists slew over 200 residents, kidnapped several others and destroyed property worth millions in Woro. 

Also, gunmen invaded the Nuku, a community in the council, killed five forest guards and kidnapped two others. Till today, 176 kidnap victims from Woro remain in captivity. Earlier this month, suspected bandits launched an attack on a Police Mobile Force (PMF) camp in Tenebo community, killing at least three officers and leaving two others severely injured.

Ifelodun

Located in the southern part of the state, Ifelodun boasts of communities such as Babanla, Oke-Ode, Oro-Ago, Kajola, Omugo, Idi-Iya and several others which had witnessed killing and abduction of helpless residents as well as security operatives. In January, bandits also stormed Aafin community where they kidnapped a traditional ruler, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, his son, Olaolu, and eight other residents.

In March, suspected gunmen attacked Oro-Ago, killed a resident, injured another and destroyed property.

Also in March, suspected gunmen invaded an Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Omugo community where they kidnapped several worshippers. The assailants later requested one billion in ransom to release the victims.

Edu

Many residents have been killed and abducted in several communities in Edu, a local council also located in the northern part of the state. For instance, in February, armed gunmen attacked Kakafu community and vigilantes/community guards’ checkpoint along the Gamji Road in Gbugbu, abducting four while leaving one officer injured.

Also, in March, bloodthirsty gunmen killed a housewife and a son in Ndeji village in March. Several attacks had also been reported in Tsaragi, Bokungi Zambufu, Lataworo, Lafiagi and others.

Patigi

Another local government close to Edu, Patigi had witnessed several attacks by bandits, including a recent incident where gunmen stormed Dinna and Marri communities, injuring several residents and leaving others missing. 

In a separate incident around April, 2026, 15 people, including three pregnant women, were abducted from Dinna and Mari villages, and a ₦500 million ransom demanded.

Bandits also invaded Rani and Lade communities where they killed some villagers and kidnapped several others, forcing residents to flee in search of safety elsewhere. Communities such as Motokun, Egboro, Ndanakun, Kakafu, Ekati, Shaminaka and others are been spared of attacks too.

Baruten

While attacks in Baruten were not frequent, it was reported that bandits recently threatened to invade several communities in the local government in reprisal for recent operations carried out by security agencies and vigilantes. Meanwhile, communities such as Kurongi had recorded attacks with some residents killed and others injured.

Moro

Also located in the northern part of the state, Moro used to be relatively peaceful until bandits extended their activities to the local government. 

In March, bandits attacked the LG, killed on one resident and left abduct four others. Police also repelled attack on Adekanbi village near Bode Saadu, where they killed a suspect and recovered weapons. 

Reports noted that terrorists were sighted in Kagondabi village, further heightening concerns over residents’ safety.

Irepodun

Another local government in the southern part of the state, Irepodun comprises communities such as Igbonla, Ajase-Ipo, Oro, Erin-Ile, Odo-Owa, Ipetu, Ayedun, Oko, Okeya and Okerimi-Oro, among others. 

In November last year, assailants in midnight attack on Igbonla community abducted several villagers. Three residents were also kidnapped in Memudu in Ajase. Some cases of abductions were also recorded in some areas including Gaa-Idera and Gaa Dembo-Agunjin, foregrounding the need for increased vigilance.

Isin

Isin local government also witnessed terror attacks. In September last year, bandits invaded Isanlu-Isin, killed some vigilantes and set fire to their motorcycles.

Also, in February this year, bandits also stormed Oba community where they killed a forest guard and abducted his wife. Similar incident occured in March where gunmen abducted five residents, including a prominent figure in Iwo Odo-Ore.

Ekiti

Another popular local government in the Kwara South, Ekiti also recorded killing and cases of abductions. 

In November last year, terrorists attacked the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku during a service, killed three worshippers and abducted 38 others. The victims were later released after rescue efforts by the state government. Similar incident occured in Isapa community where bandits kidnapped at least 11 people, including women and children in the same month.

In February this year, bandits attacked Koro community, leading to the death of a forest guard and the burning of motorcycles belonging to a local security group. 

A growing concern

Speaking on the development, the state police spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, told The Gazette that while crimes such as cult-related, street violence, illicit drug trafficking and others were not frequent in the state, terrorism and banditry, especially in the northern and southern parts of the state, remain a serious concern for authorities.

“Aside from this major issue bordering on killing and kidnapping affecting the northern and southern parts of the state, we don’t have this issue recurring in the central. This is not to say that we don’t have some crimes here and there in the capital. But the one that concerns us the most is banditry,” Ms Ejire-Adeyemi stated.

Opposition figure and former governor in the state, Bukola Saraki, decried the escalating killing and kidnapping incidents across several communities in the state, adding that the situation posed significant risk to the growth and development of the state. 

Mr Saraki, in a Channels TV interview, described the state as an emerging epicentre of terrorism and accused Mr Abdulrazaq’s administration of failure to protect lives and property. 

“I’ll quote an international institution that said Kwara State was one of the safest states in the past years. All of a sudden, it has become an emerging area for terrorism and attacks.

“The responsibility of lives and properties is on the government. I was the governor for eight years. My successor was governor for eight years. If you go and look at data of how many people that were killed in that period, it was in less than number of 10 to 15,” the former governor stated.

Also, the state residents had repeatedly taken to the streets to demand urgent actions from the Abdulrazaq-led government as rampaging terrorists unleashed terror on communities and kidnap citizens frequently.

In April, several youths in Kaiama also protested to demand urgent action on the 176 women and children reportedly in Boko Haram’s captivity.

Amid the lamentations, Mr Abdulrazaq repeatedly touted its administration’s capacity to defeat terrorism and other related challenges harassing the state.

Experts’ reactions

Amid the disturbing trend, experts advised the government to strengthen security architecture to protect the citizens. 

A socio-political commentator, Adam Oluwatoyin, decried the audacity with which bandits wreak havoc on innocent citizens, describing the situation as “a mockery of our constitutional sovereignty.”

Mr Oluwatoyin stated, “The escalating insurgency of banditry and kidnapping in Nigeria, especially Kwara State stands as a profound mockery of our constitutional sovereignty. That these actors possess the audacious temerity to announce their invasions without consequence highlights a fractured in governance, a crisis born from systemic leadership failure and the uneven distribution of state resources which is not only ridiculous but scandalous.”

Stating that the security challenges were largely driven by systemic neglect fuelled by a generation of jobless youths left with no stake in the peace of the country, Mr Adam urged the government to invest in a formalised community intelligence network.

He added, “Instead of relying solely on federal police, the state should empower hunters and vigilance groups as done in some South-West states know the terrain of Kwara North and South intimately. These local actors must be integrated into a digital communication loop with the military to act with immediate alacrity on a sense of threats before they manifest.”

Also, a security analyst, Raheem Ajamira, faulted government’s handling of the crisis, alleging a lack of transparency.

“Insecurity is a national problem, agreed. But the way and manner it is being addressed isn’t good enough,” Mr Rasheed stated. “It has been months now that over 176 people were kidnapped from Woro. At least, nothing tangible was made public as efforts by the government to save the victims.”

He added that transparency in terms of information dissemination to the public was key to winning the war against terrorism in Nigeria.

Also, a lecturer and social commentator, Abdullahi Hussein, advised the government to try non-kinetic approach in addressing the security challenges.

“Insecurity is not an insurmountable war. Beyond the kinetic approach, the state government should try other methods, such as non-kinetic approach, to restore confidence in people and keep them safe.”

Mr Hussein noted that allowing the killings and abductions to continue without genuine commitment to tackling them would be to the detriment of safety and development in the state.