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The people of Kwara South have dismissed assertions that banditry and kidnapping have rendered significant portions of the area uninhabited and diminished its voter population.
In a statement released on Sunday by Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, representing the Joint Security Watch Kwara South, it was stated that this narrative is misleading and is being exploited for political gain in the lead-up to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship election.
They emphasized that the issues of banditry and kidnapping in Kwara stem from unregulated forests and vulnerable border areas, asserting that the offenders are not natives of Kwara South and that their actions do not represent the community.
They noted that incidents of violence have primarily targeted remote routes and settlements with minimal security presence.
“In regions where intelligence and coordinated operations were implemented promptly, attacks were thwarted, and displaced families have returned to their agricultural activities,” they remarked.
Oyin-Zubair also referenced electoral statistics to support Kwara South’s political significance within the APC. He mentioned the 2019 and 2023 elections, indicating that the region outperformed other zones in APC electoral success.
He pointed out that the party achieved a 68% success rate in Kwara South, in contrast to 35% in Kwara Central, the area currently propagating the claim that Kwara South lacks electoral strength due to banditry.
The group detailed ongoing security initiatives, which include community-driven patrols, an early warning system in each ward, aerial surveillance over identified hotspots, and collaborative operations with the police, NSCDC, and local vigilante groups across the local government areas of Irepodun, Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Isin, and Offa.
“Kwara South is safeguarding its territory, protecting its citizens, and restoring normalcy and economic activities. We will not tolerate the use of insecurity as a means of political marginalization,” Oyin-Zubair stated.
The group encouraged the public to depend on verified information and affirmed that Kwara South remains a safe place for living, farming, trading, and voting.
2027 election: We must not be excluded for security reasons – Kwara South
