Kwara: State of Harmony Now a Safe Haven and Dumping Ground for Bandits

By Opeyemi Taiwo

Once celebrated as the “State of Harmony,” Kwara’s peaceful, multicultural identity has underpinned its Ease of Doing Business ranking, only to be eclipsed by a surge in armed criminality . Dislodged by military operations in Zamfara and Kaduna, bandits have exploited the porous Kamuku Forest corridor to entrench themselves in Baruten and Kaiama LGAs, while southern routes through Ekiti and Oke-Ero have become kidnapping arteries . Despite governors and local government chairmen pocketing over ₦375 billion annually in opaque “security votes” , the governor has leaned almost entirely on federal troop mobilised on April 22, 2025, neglecting state-led vigilante corps and rural outposts . In the most chilling incident yet, eight gunmen ambushed a Toyota Sienna (Reg. No. FFA 50 XD) around 6:30 pm on April 18, 2025, along the Obbo-Aiyegunle–Osi Road, abducting seven travellers in under 20 minutes .

The “State of Harmony” and Ease of Doing Business

Kwara’s official slogan, “State of Harmony,” reflects decades of peaceful coexistence among its roughly 3.5 million residents .

Under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the administration markets an Ease of Doing Business portal, rooted in Kwara’s tranquility to attract investment and streamline approvals .

Regional Spillover via Kamuku Forest

Operation Safe Haven and Hadarin Daji in Zamfara and Kaduna drove bandit gangs south through the Kamuku Forest corridor, which spans Zamfara, Niger and Kwara, enabling attacks in Baruten and Kaiama LGAs .

Villagers report weekend raids on farms and livestock rustling, signaling the rapid entrenchment of these criminal networks.

Opaque Security Votes, No Local Mobilisation

State governors and local government chairmen across Nigeria collect over ₦375 billion annually in “security votes” funds not provided for by law and shielded from public audit .

Kwara’s share implies hundreds of millions of naira available monthly, yet no portion has funded paid vigilante stipends, motorcycles or community rapid-response units.

Military Mobilisation vs. Local Neglect

On April 22, 2025, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, ordered Nigerian Army troops to clear bandits from Baruten and Kaiama within one month, underscoring federal resolve .

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq joined this push at the Emir’s palace in Kaiama but has failed to invest in state-led measures, mini-barracks, paid vigilantes or local intelligence networks to secure rural communities.

Kidnapping Corridors in Kwara South

April 18, 2025 Ambush: Around 6:30 pm, eight masked gunmen stopped a Toyota Sienna (Reg. FFA 50 XD) from Abuja to Offa on Obbo-Aiyegunle–Osi Road in Ekiti LGA, abducting seven passengers (including the driver) and leaving three children behind in under 20 minutes .

Other Routes: Similar operations plague Ekiti, Oke-Ero and Irepodun LGAs, with victims held for ransom before police-vigilante rescues.

Community-Driven Solutions

1. Paid Vigilante Corps: Recruit 100 vigilantes per LGA at ₦70,000/month each, supplying motorcycles and radios, costing ₦112 million/month (< 25% of a ₦500 million monthly allocation).

2. Rural Outposts: Construct mini-barracks in Baruten, Kaiama, Ekiti and Oke-Ero as rapid-response hubs.

3. Integrated Intelligence: Formalise daily briefings between district heads, Amotekun, NSCDC and police.

4. Transparent Reporting: Publish quarterly security-vote expenditures and outcomes for civil-society audit.

Call to Action

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq must pivot from symbolic appeals to the federal government toward substantive state-led mobilisation, deploying available security-vote funds to fortify grassroots defences. Kwara’s senators and House representatives must legislatively demand oversight of these votes and champion security on the National Assembly floor. Citizens deserve more than slogans and portals; they demand accountability, action, and the restoration of Kwara’s harmony.