A civil society group in Kwara South has refuted claims that banditry and kidnapping have driven residents away and weakened voter strength ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries.
Group Denies Exaggerated Insecurity Narrative
Joint Security Watch Kwara South, in a statement released on Saturday, May 9, described the narrative as misleading and politically motivated. The group argued that insecurity in parts of the region has been exaggerated to sideline the area politically.
Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, the group’s coordinator, stated: “Banditry and kidnapping in Kwara entered through ungoverned forests and weak border points. They are not indigenous to Kwara South and do not define our people.”
Security Measures Help Residents Return
The group acknowledged that attacks have occurred in some communities, but noted that incidents were mostly concentrated along isolated routes and settlements with limited security presence. Early deployment of intelligence gathering and joint security operations helped repel attacks in several affected areas, allowing displaced residents to return to their farms and businesses.
Joint Security Watch Kwara South highlighted ongoing community-led patrols, ward-level early warning systems, air surveillance over identified hotspots, and coordinated operations involving the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and local vigilantes across Irepodun, Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Isin, and Offa local government areas.
“Kwara South is securing its land, protecting its people, and restoring normal life and economic activity. We will not accept the use of insecurity as a tool for political exclusion,” Oyin-Zubair said.
Election Results Show Political Relevance
The group cited previous election results to defend Kwara South’s political relevance within the APC. It claimed the region recorded stronger APC performance in the 2019 and 2023 elections than other parts of the state, with the party securing about 68% of votes in Kwara South compared to 35% in Kwara Central.
The statement comes amid growing political discussions ahead of the 2027 governorship race in Kwara State, with different blocs within the ruling party positioning for influence. The group urged residents and the public to rely on verified information, insisting that Kwara South remains safe for farming, trading, and political participation.
