The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi, has raised a grave alarm over the growing wave of insecurity in Kwara State, revealing that bandits and kidnappers have taken over vast areas of the countryside, including his own farmlands.
Speaking during a media interaction on Wednesday, Abdullahi lamented that the deteriorating security situation in parts of Kwara, particularly in rural communities, has rendered farming and other economic activities nearly impossible for locals. "I can't even go to my own farms anymore," he said. "The fear of being kidnapped or attacked by armed criminals has kept many of us away from lands we’ve worked on for years."
According to him, what was once a haven for agriculture and community life has now become a danger zone where residents live in constant fear. He called on both the federal and Kwara State governments to act swiftly and decisively to restore security in the region.
"This is not just about me," Abdullahi emphasized. "It is about the countless farmers, traders, and rural dwellers who now face violence, extortion, and displacement on a daily basis. If we cannot guarantee the safety of people in their own farms and homes, then what hope is left for food security or rural development?"
He warned that the unchecked activities of armed groups in the North Central zone pose a serious threat not only to lives and livelihoods but also to national stability, particularly as Nigeria grapples with inflation and worsening food shortages.
Abdullahi also urged security agencies to intensify surveillance and intelligence-led operations to flush out criminal elements in affected areas. "We cannot continue to normalize terror in our communities. If the government can protect politicians and urban elites, it must also protect farmers, herders, and ordinary Nigerians in rural areas."
The ADC spokesman reiterated the party’s commitment to championing the rights and safety of Nigerians in every part of the country and called on civil society, traditional institutions, and the media to continue putting pressure on those in power to fulfill their constitutional duty to protect lives and property.