Residents Flee Kwara Community Over Escalating Banditry, Kidnappings
Residents of Pampo in Asa Local Council of Kwara State are fleeing the community due to rising banditry, kidnappings, and killings allegedly carried out by gunmen dressed in military uniforms.
The Asa Progressive Assembly raised the alarm yesterday, urging the state government and security agencies to swiftly address the escalating insecurity.
In a statement, Kudirat Olohunoje, Director of Welfare and Public Orientation of the group, warned that without urgent intervention, “the community may soon become desolate.” The group pleaded with the state government to rescue the agrarian community from the grip of criminals.
Olohunoje expressed concern over the plight of farmers who had invested heavily in commercial agriculture in the area only to abandon their farms due to the fear of being kidnapped or killed.
“Farmers who have poured their resources into cultivating their lands are now abandoning their investments because of the constant threat of abduction and murder,” she lamented.
Residents of Pampo shared harrowing experiences, recounting how dozens have been abducted. Recently, three people were kidnapped in nearby Igbaja, with a ransom of N30 million demanded for two of the victims. They also mourned the death of Lukman Balogun, a local vigilante leader, killed by kidnappers last September.
In a video shown to The Guardian, a vigilante officer narrated how he was shot and left for dead by kidnappers in Isapa community. In the clip, he described how gunmen in military camouflage abducted residents almost every three days.
A resident, Mrs Kehinde Olaitan, lamented, “The kidnappers have turned this area into a nightmare. Nobody is safe; they can even enter your house to abduct you. The government is not doing enough to protect us.”
Similarly, Alhaji Abdulqadri Ahmadu, another resident, criticised the unfulfilled promises by law enforcement to restore peace. The Asa Progressive Assembly also condemned the inadequate response from security agencies, leaving Pampo and surrounding villages in constant fear.
Also, the management of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, has denied claims that the 21-year-old victim recently killed in the Tanke area of Ilorin was a student of the institution.
According to KWASU, the deceased, Aiyeyemi Sulaimon Olayinka, withdrew from the university in 2019 at his 200 level.
In a statement released by the Acting Director of University Relations, Dr Saeedat Aliyu, KWASU clarified that records showed Olayinka had voluntarily withdrawn from the Department of Statistics during the 2018/2019 academic session.
The university extended its condolences to the family, stating, “The management of Kwara State University sympathises deeply with the family of the deceased and prays for strength during this difficult time.”
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of three of its officers in connection with the death of 27-year-old Suleiman Olayinka in Ilorin.
According to the command’s spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the police initiated an investigation after receiving a complaint of cheating and criminal breach of trust against Olayinka. The officers allegedly involved have been detained and are currently under investigation to determine their role in the incident.
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