The Kwara South Youth Congress (KSYC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Kwara State following escalating violence in the region. This appeal comes in the wake of a brutal attack on Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area, where 15 people, including a traditional ruler, were killed by armed assailants.
In a poignant open letter addressed to the President, the KSYC described the security situation in Kwara South as “dire,” citing a growing wave of attacks by bandits, which has left many residents displaced. The group stated that since January, over 200 individuals have been kidnapped in major towns across Kwara South, with Ifelodun particularly hard-hit. Communities such as Babanla, Oreke, and Ganmu Aliheri have endured repeated assaults, compelling their inhabitants to abandon their homes in search of safety.
The KSYC’s statement was signed by Dr. Oluwatobi Afolayan, President of the KSYC, and Mr. Bashir Adejare, Public Relations Officer of the group. According to them, the bloodshed in Oke-Ode on Sunday, September 28, 2025, was a stark reminder of the urgent need for federal intervention. “On that fateful day, 15 people, including a Baale, were killed, and several others were abducted by unknown assailants,” the letter reads. “Local vigilantes, who bravely attempted to protect the town, were also gunned down after military support was withdrawn.”
The KSYC also linked the recent spike in attacks to the movement of armed groups into the state earlier this year through northern entry points. They warned that without swift and decisive action, more communities would be at risk of being displaced, further deepening the crisis.
In their letter, the youth group proposed a series of measures to combat the growing insecurity. These include the formation of a specialized security force to address kidnapping and banditry, increased security awareness in rural communities, the temporary relocation of military bases to affected areas, and the immediate signing of death warrants for convicted violent offenders.
“We believe that with timely intervention, Kwara South can be stabilized, and the safety of our people restored,” the KSYC concluded.
