Open Letter To President Bola Tinubu And Gov Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq On The Worsening Insecurity In Kwara State With Urgent Emphasis On Kwara North And South-Former Rep Zakari Mohammed
Your Excellencies,
I write with a heavy heart over the continued bloodshed and destruction of innocent lives across Kwara State, particularly in the northern axis, where defenseless rural communities have repeatedly come under brutal attacks from armed bandits.
Most recently, the peaceful communities of Nuku and Woro in Kaiama Local Government Area, and Karonji in Baruten Local Government Area, have witnessed horrifying assaults that claimed scores of lives and left homes and properties burnt to ashes.
The victims are not criminals or combatants. They are poor peasants, subsistence farmers, petty traders, women, children, and the elderly citizens who live from hand to mouth and depend solely on their daily labour to survive. It is both tragic and unjust that such vulnerable Nigerians have become easy and frequent targets of violent criminals.
Beyond the painful loss of human lives, the economic damage is staggering:
Farmers can no longer go to their farms.
Local markets are deserted.
Food production has dropped drastically.
Small rural businesses have collapsed.
Entire communities that once fed the state through agriculture are now gripped by fear and hunger. When farmers abandon their fields, it creates not just local suffering but a wider food security crisis for Kwara State and Nigeria at large.
Today, villages are emptied. Children are out of school. Women are widowed. Breadwinners are gone.
What we face is no longer just insecurity; it is a humanitarian and economic emergency.
While we acknowledge and commend the Federal Government’s security deployment, including troops backed by air power in parts of Kwara South such as Orago, we strongly appeal that the same urgency and military strength be extended across Kaiama, Baruten, Edu, and Patigi Local Government Areas in Kwara North, where attacks have become alarmingly frequent.
Security must not be selective. Protection must not depend on geography. Every Kwara life matters equally North, South, and Central.
Mr. President, the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property. Our people look to your leadership for safety and reassurance. They cannot continue to live at the mercy of criminals who strike at will without consequence.
Governor AbdulRazaq, as the Chief Security Officer of Kwara State, more decisive and visible measures are urgently required. Enhanced intelligence gathering, better-equipped security formations, strengthened vigilante structures, and closer collaboration with federal forces must be prioritized. The people need action swift and firm action not promises while their homes burn.
At the same time, we sincerely commend our traditional rulers and community leaders who, despite limited resources and personal risks, continue to stand by their people, maintain order, and support local security efforts. Their resilience and leadership in the face of terror are worthy of recognition and government support. However, royal fathers alone cannot confront heavily armed bandits. Government must take the lead.
How many more lives must be lost before decisive action is taken?
How many more communities must be erased from the map?
The people of Kwara are not asking for special favours. They are only demanding their constitutional right to live safely on their ancestral lands.
Enough of the killings.
Enough of the displacement.
Enough of the tears.
We urge both the Federal and State Governments to act now decisively and comprehensively to restore peace, security, and dignity to every corner of Kwara State.
History will remember what is done at this critical moment.
Respectfully,
Hon. Zakari Mohammed
Spokesman, 7th House of Representatives
