By Amanabo Ocholi | Ilorin | Nigeria News Today
Hundreds of residents in Kwara South have reportedly abandoned their ancestral homes following an alarming surge in kidnapping incidents, especially in Ifelodun Local Government Area, The Bureau News has learned.
Communities such as Sabe, Ologomo, Alabe, and Babanla are among the worst hit, with families leaving in large numbers after repeated attacks by suspected armed bandits turned everyday life into a constant struggle for survival.
A resident identified as Ganiyu Babatunde, who spoke to The Bureau News in an emotional video, appealed to the Kwara State Government to urgently intervene, warning that people are being forced to flee their ancestral lands.
“We are begging the Kwara State Government to come to our aid. People are leaving their homes with their belongings. Communities that used to be peaceful are no longer peaceful,” he lamented.
At the Oke-Ode garage, dozens of families — including women and children — were seen waiting for vehicles and even trucks to transport them to safer locations. Some residents reported that even Dangote trucks and motorcycles were being used to evacuate people and their belongings.
The rising wave of abductions has also forced many locals to abandon their farms and small businesses as fear spreads rapidly across the area.
“If we abandon our ancestral homes, strangers may take over. Even now, we have no vehicles left here; they’ve all gone to other villages to pick up people,” another fleeing resident told The Bureau News.
Deepening Insecurity Raises Concerns
The latest incidents come on the heels of multiple attacks in other parts of Kwara State, including Edu Local Government Area, where gunmen have repeatedly struck villages such as Lataworo, Gada, Kokodoko, and Gamalegi in recent weeks.
Although the exact number of kidnapped victims in the most recent attacks remains unclear, residents say the frequency and intensity of the kidnappings have left many communities deserted and helpless.
Local residents are urging the Kwara State Government and security agencies to deploy more personnel and take stronger action to curb the growing level of insecurity.
For more Nigeria News Today updates on security and community issues, visit the Security section of The Bureau News.
