The Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area in Kwara State, Femi Yusuf, has made a stunning revelation, alleging that armed bandits have been residing in the state's forests for more than 15 years. He further insinuated that successive state governments were aware of their presence but failed to take any decisive action to root them out.
Long-Term Terrorist Settlement Exposed
Yusuf disclosed this information during a recent Yoruba-language programme titled 'Ebewa Dasi', which aired on Diamond FM. He countered the popular narrative that terrorists recently infiltrated the woodlands, stating instead that they have long-established, organised systems within the vast forest reserves.
"Those bandits do not just arrive in our forests; they have been living inside the forest for more than 15 years," Yusuf asserted. "They have already established a system inside our forest and have been living there."
He emphasised the sheer size of the forest, noting that one could ride a motorcycle through it for three hours without reaching the end. The council boss, who claims to have ventured into the forest before his election, stated that various legitimate economic activities like farming and logging have been ongoing there for years, making the area familiar to authorities.
Alleged Local Collaboration and Shift in Target
In a particularly grave allegation, Femi Yusuf claimed that some members of the local community have been collaborating with the criminal elements. "We know them, and we know some people working and defending these Fulani. We grew up with some of them," he said.
He explained that for many years, the bandits' criminal activities were primarily directed at cattle herders, involving rustling, and they did not attack the local Yoruba populace. This, according to him, is part of the reason why they were not chased out earlier. Their modus operandi, however, changed dramatically.
The chairman cited a pivotal incident that occurred just one week after his election, where a man from his town named Jagun was killed. "It was his death that let me know he was working with these bandits," Yusuf revealed, pointing to the deep-seated and complex ties between some residents and the criminals.
Government Inaction and a Major Attack
Yusuf placed the blame for the prolonged security crisis squarely on the doorsteps of past administrations. "These issues have been recurring for a very long time, and the government from the past administrations refused to do anything about it," he concluded.
The chairman's allegations bring a new perspective to a devastating attack that drew international attention. In November 2025, bandits stormed the Christ Apostolic Church in central Kwara State during a service. The assault resulted in the tragic deaths of two worshippers and the abduction of 38 others.
When contacted for a response to the serious allegations made by the Ifelodun council chairman, Ibraheem Abdullateef, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Communications, did not provide any comment after more than 24 hours.
The revelations by the local government chairman raise urgent questions about intelligence gathering, inter-community relations, and the historical effectiveness of security strategies in Kwara State, suggesting that the roots of the banditry problem run far deeper than previously acknowledged.
