Hundreds of residents in Kwara South have deserted their ancestral homes following a surge in kidnapping incidents, particularly in Ifelodun Local Government Area, where suspected armed bandits now carry out near-daily attacks.
A video obtained by SaharaReporters shows a distressed resident, Ganiyu Babatunde, pleading with the Kwara State Government to urgently intervene as insecurity worsens across the region.
Communities such as Sabe, Ologomo, Alabe, and Babanla in Ifelodun LGA are among the worst affected, with families fleeing in large numbers.
Eyewitnesses reported that many residents, including women and children, were stranded at Oke-Ode garage with their belongings, seeking transport to safer areas.
“The insecurity in our communities is terrifying us. Please, Kwara State Governor, come to our aid,” Babatunde said in the video.
He described how trucks, motorcycles, and even Dangote trailers were being used to evacuate families abandoning their homes.
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Residents expressed fears that their ancestral lands could be taken over by strangers if the mass exodus continues. Many lamented that they had been forced to abandon farms and businesses, leaving communities deserted.
The crisis in Kwara South comes amid escalating attacks across the state. On August 14, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that suspected bandits stormed Lataworo in Edu Local Government, forcing villagers to flee. Earlier, on June 30, coordinated attacks on Gada, Lataworo, and Kokodoko villages in Edu LGA left several residents and vigilantes injured.
Just days ago, on August 13, terrorists abducted four residents of Gamalegi village in Lafiagi Emirate during a night raid, with witnesses describing the attack as “hell on earth.”
The recent wave of violence has deepened fears in both Kwara North and South, with residents warning that if urgent measures are not taken, entire communities could be wiped out.