Kwara State is once again in the grip of fear following a fresh attack by armed men who kidnapped foreign workers. This incident underscores the persistent security challenges in the region, coming just days after the rescue of some abducted church worshippers in the same state.
Attack on Construction Site
On Monday, December 1, 2025, a group of masked gunmen stormed a road construction site in Kwara State. The assailants arrived at the location in Ejidongari, within the Moro Local Government Area, and began shooting sporadically. Their target was the expatriate workers on site.
The victims were two Chinese nationals employed on the BUA Bode Saadu–Kaiama–Kosubosu road project. The gunmen successfully abducted the expatriates during the violent assault, leaving the community in panic.
Police Confirmation and Official Statement
The Kwara State Police Command officially confirmed the abduction on Friday, December 5. The State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, addressed journalists regarding the incident.
In his statement, CP Ojo said, “It is true that they were abducted from the construction site; they are working with BUA. That’s all for now.” This confirmation places the spotlight back on Kwara as a hotspot for kidnapping and banditry, which have seen a worrying increase in recent weeks.
Broader Context of Insecurity and Political Moves
This kidnapping occurred against a backdrop of significant national security developments. President Bola Tinubu recently announced the nomination of General Christopher Musa (rtd), the former Chief of Defence Staff, as the new Minister of Defence.
General Musa’s nomination followed the resignation of Abubakar Badaru. Notably, the president held a meeting with Musa at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, December 1—the same day as the Kwara abduction. The former CDS arrived at the State House around 7 pm, though the agenda of the meeting was not publicly disclosed.
The security situation nationwide remains dire. Within one month of General Musa's prior removal as CDS, Nigeria witnessed a series of violent attacks. These included the mass kidnapping of 300 pupils and 15 teachers in Niger State, abductions of students in Kebbi, and the earlier kidnapping of church worshippers in Kwara.
In response to the escalating crisis, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency on security. He has also ordered massive recruitment into the police and military and called for constitutional amendments to allow for the establishment of state police.
Furthermore, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to mobilise its members for nationwide protests over the rising insecurity. NLC President Joe Ajaero stated that Nigeria is under siege and the union will not stand by while miscreants take over the country.
The abduction in Kwara is a stark reminder of the urgent security work facing the new defence minister and the Tinubu administration as they grapple with this multifaceted crisis.
