Escalating Insecurity in Kwara North Sparks Outrage as Youth Group Blasts Government Response

Tension is mounting in Kwara State following fresh attacks by suspected bandits in Kaiama Local Government Area, as the Kwara Youth Assembly (KYA) has strongly criticized what it described as the government’s failure to safeguard lives and property.

In a press statement issued on Monday, the youth group condemned a recent attack on Kemanji community in Kaiama LGA, where five security operatives were reportedly killed. The incident, according to KYA, adds to a growing list of violent assaults in Kwara North, including earlier attacks on Woro, Nuku, and Duruma communities.

The group expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation, noting that the region has continued to experience coordinated attacks with little resistance from security forces. It described the trend as evidence that insecurity in the area is “spiraling out of control.”

Particularly troubling, the group said, is the fate of over 174 women and children abducted during the Woro attack weeks ago. According to KYA, there has been no meaningful update from authorities regarding rescue efforts, a situation it called both “disturbing” and “unacceptable.”

The statement also directed criticism at Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, whom it described as the state’s Chief Security Officer, insisting he must be held accountable for protecting citizens. Similarly, the Chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Abdullahi Bio, was faulted for what the group termed a passive response amid escalating threats to residents.

KYA further questioned the effectiveness of “Operation Savanna,” a federal security initiative introduced in response to earlier attacks. The group said the operation has yet to produce any visible or measurable impact, as armed groups continue to operate freely across affected communities.

Amid rising frustration, the youth assembly outlined key demands, including the immediate intensification of security operations in Kaiama and surrounding areas, a transparent update on efforts to rescue abducted victims, and greater accountability from both state and local authorities.

They also called for a comprehensive and sustained security strategy capable of delivering real protection, rather than what they described as “mere media pronouncements.”

“The lives of Kwarans, especially those in vulnerable rural communities, must not be treated as expendable,” the statement read.

The latest developments have heightened fears among residents of Kwara North, many of whom continue to face displacement and uncertainty as insecurity persists in the region.