Kwara North Elders: Banditry Has Claimed 1,200 Lives Under Tinubu

Elders from the Kwara North Senatorial District have placed the death toll from banditry attacks since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office at more than 1,200 persons, describing the situation as a crisis that has devastated communities across their region. The statement, delivered by the Kwara North Elders Forum, represents one of the most stark public assessments of insecurity in the north-central state since Tinubu assumed the presidency in May 2023. Residents in several local government areas confirmed that attacks have become more frequent and increasingly targeted against civilian populations.

Elders Break Silence on Rising Death Toll

The Kwara North Elders Forum issued a comprehensive statement on Tuesday detailing what they called an unacceptable pattern of violence sweeping through their communities. Forum representatives said the 1,200 figure represents documented deaths from banditry, kidnappings, and related attacks that have occurred over the past two years. The elders specifically tied the escalation to the period following Tinubu's inauguration, arguing that federal security interventions have proven insufficient to protect their communities. Several community leaders who attended the press conference appeared visibly distressed as they read aloud names of villages that have experienced multiple attacks.

We cannot continue to watch our people die in silence, one elder told reporters at the briefing held in the district. The federal government must recognise that Kwara North is bleeding. Local officials in the affected LGAs have struggled to compile comprehensive casualty figures, with many killings occurring in remote communities where formal reporting mechanisms remain limited.

Communities Bear the Brunt of Insecurity

For residents of towns such as Omu-Aran, Ijara, and surrounding villages, the elders' declaration confirmed what many had known from personal experience. Farmers have abandoned their fields in several areas due to fear of attacks on rural roads. Women and children have been particularly affected, with local education officials reporting a sharp drop in school attendance in districts closest to known bandit hideouts. A trader from Omu-Aran who spoke on condition of anonymity described how armed men now operate with apparent freedom across large stretches of the senatorial district.

The economic consequences have been severe. Local markets that once thrived have seen customer numbers shrink as people fear travelling between communities. Small business owners have closed their shops earlier than usual, and some have relocated entirely to Ilorin, the state capital, leaving behind investments built over generations. The elders noted that the displacement has created a secondary crisis, with internally displaced persons placing strain on host communities that themselves lack adequate resources.

Security Response Falls Short

Military and police operations in the region have failed to stem the violence, according to the elders and local residents. They acknowledged that soldiers have conducted patrols in certain areas but argued that the presence remains insufficient and often temporary. Security checkpoints that once dotted major highways have been reduced, according to drivers who regularly travel routes connecting Kwara North to neighbouring states. The police command in Kwara State has not issued a public response to the elders' specific death toll figure, though a spokesperson indicated that security operations continue across all local government areas.

Intelligence failures have also contributed to the problem, according to community leaders. They claim that bandits receive advance warning of military movements, allowing them to evade capture or simply relocate to adjacent forests. The vast expanse of the Gbari Forest, which spans parts of Kwara North, has long served as a refuge for criminal elements and has proven difficult for security forces to penetrate effectively.

Political Dimensions of the Crisis

The elders' statement arrives at a politically sensitive moment. Tinubu's administration has faced mounting criticism from multiple northern regions over its security record, though the presidency has consistently pointed to ongoing reforms within the armed forces and police as evidence of progress. The Kwara North Elders Forum stopped short of directly calling for the president's resignation but suggested that the current approach had categorically failed the region. Political observers note that the statement could intensify pressure on federal lawmakers from Kwara State to address the security situation more aggressively in national assembly sessions.

The opposition has seized on the elders' statement. Representatives from the main opposition parties held a separate press conference on Wednesday demanding an independent investigation into the alleged deaths and calling for the deployment of additional federal troops to the region. They accused the government of prioritising urban centres while rural communities in Kwara North suffer. A senator representing the district could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

What Comes Next

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq convened an emergency security meeting on Wednesday with heads of security agencies operating in the state. While the official communique offered no specific commitments beyond a promise to strengthen patrols, government insiders suggested that additional resources might be allocated to the north of the state in coming weeks. The governor's office released a brief statement expressing concern over the security situation and urging residents to remain vigilant while promising enhanced protection for vulnerable communities.

Human rights organisations monitoring the situation have called for independent verification of the death toll. Amnesty International's Nigeria office issued a statement noting that it had independently documented several attacks in Kwara North over the past 18 months but stopped short of confirming the specific 1,200 figure. The group called on authorities to grant investigators access to affected communities and to ensure that those responsible for the killings face justice. Families of victims continue to bury their dead without any indication that the attacks will stop anytime soon.