Ilorin, Nigeria – Once regarded as one of Nigeria’s most peaceful states, Kwara is today battling an unprecedented wave of insecurity that has shattered its long-standing image as the “State of Harmony.” From the northern communities of Kaiama and Patigi to the southern towns of Oke-Ode and Babanla, fear and displacement have replaced serenity as bandits unleash terror on rural populations.
In the past nine months, over 71 people have been killed, more than 86 kidnapped, and over 57 communities deserted, according to reports by Daily Trust. The attacks—often involving hundreds of armed bandits—have devastated farmlands, paralyzed trade, and driven thousands from their ancestral homes to Ilorin and nearby towns for safety.
Terror from the Forests
The latest major attack in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area, left over 10 people dead, including hunters, vigilantes, and newly recruited forest guards. Residents recount scenes of horror, including a viral video showing a grieving widow beside her husband’s corpse, crying for justice.
Behind the surge is the Mahmuda terrorist group, which has occupied parts of the vast Kainji National Park spanning Kwara and Niger States. Initially arriving as “wandering preachers” 14 years ago, the group gradually transformed into a full-blown militant network—heavily armed and entrenched in forest territories stretching to Kogi State.
The group’s expansion has brought unrelenting attacks on towns like Kaiama, Babanla, and Ilesha Baruba, where gunmen in military uniforms have killed civilians and security personnel alike.
Communities in Flight
In Babanla, over 3,000 residents from 15 surrounding villages have fled. Survivors describe the attacks as apocalyptic—hundreds of motorbike-riding gunmen storming police stations, looting markets, and setting entire villages ablaze.
A community leader, Mr. Yusuf Jimoh, recounted that over 100 people have been killed in Babanla since the attacks began. “They now occupy our deserted villages and even feast on livestock,” he said.
Similar tales echo from Patigi and Edu in Kwara North, where dozens of farmers have been abducted from their fields. Victims are forced to pay millions in ransom or work as slaves in the bandits’ forest camps.
The Fear of ‘Baba Sango Forest’
Residents of Ifelodun and adjoining communities describe Baba Sango Forest as a “republic of terror.” Bandits, along with their families, are said to live deep within, fully armed and organized into cells. Survivors claim the forest stretches across several local governments and serves as a launch base for attacks across the state.
Economic and Social Collapse
Agriculture—the backbone of Kwara’s economy—has been crippled. Farms have been razed, livestock slaughtered or stolen, and major markets deserted. Even the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) had to relocate its orientation camp from Yikpata (Edu LGA) to Ilorin over security concerns. The Kwara State Ministry of Health also moved its medical outreach from Oke-Ode to Omupo due to safety risks.
Humanitarian Crisis and Pleas for Help
The Miyetti Allah Fulaku Yeso Yeso Development Association (MAFYDA) reported that over 3,000 cattle were rustled in the past two months and that N10 million is now the average ransom demanded by kidnappers. The group’s chairman, Alhaji Ali Mohammed Jonwuro, called on the state government to establish internally displaced persons (IDP) camps to shelter the homeless and traumatised victims.
“We (Fulani) are also victims,” he said, noting that criminality now cuts across ethnic lines.
Why Kwara Is Bleeding
Security experts, including retired police spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi, attribute the worsening crisis to weak border control, community connivance, underfunded security forces, and political complacency.
“Kwara borders states deeply infested with banditry. Without strong intelligence and community cooperation, the criminals simply move freely,” he warned.
A Call for Urgent Action
As displaced families continue to flood Ilorin in search of safety, there are growing calls for decisive government intervention, improved intelligence sharing, and humanitarian support.
The “State of Harmony” is at a crossroads—between its peaceful past and a perilous present that threatens its future.
Credit & Reference:
This comprehensive report draws heavily from “Insecurity: Kwara Bleeds,” an investigative story published by Mumini AbdulKareem in Daily Trust (October 4, 2025).
Additional analysis and contextual reporting by Geri Alimi News.
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