Legislator Voices Concerns Amid Escalating Safety Concerns Within electoral District
Government Urged to Step Up Security Measures in Kwara State Amid Ongoing Kidnappings and Attacks
Ahmed Adamu Saba, a member of the Federal House of Representatives, has pleaded for immediate intervention from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and other security agencies to address the escalating security crisis in his constituency, Edu/Moro/Patigi, Kwara State.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Saba expressed his concern over the recurring attacks by bandits and kidnappers in the region, particularly expressing empathy for the affected families and residents. He stressed the urgent need to restore peace to the terrorized areas.
Saba pointed out several distressing incidents in his constituency, such as the Tashagi community, where a cattle rearer was murdered, and five of his children were abducted by armed bandits. Their current location remains unknown, causing great fear among the families.
In addition, in Gbugbu, located along the Ndeji road, a businessman and his manager have been held captive by gunmen for over two weeks, with the kidnappers demanding increased ransom and threatening harm to the victims.
The persistent attacks have sparked fears within the communities, resulting in disrupted daily life, as residents struggle to sleep peacefully and go about their routines without fear of attacks. Local businesses are also being impacted, as residents refrain from engaging in their livelihoods due to the heightened risk of kidnapping.
Saba emphasized the unacceptable nature of these inhumane and criminal activities and urged both the federal and state governments to act swiftly to restore normality. He affirmed his commitment to collaborating with the authorities to ensure the safety and security of his constituents.
Background: The ongoing insecurity in Kwara State is rooted in the operations of criminal groups like the Mahmuda faction, a breakaway group of Boko Haram insurgents, who have been terrorizing border communities in Baruten and Kaiama local government areas, close to the Edu/Moro/Patigi constituency. The Nigerian Army has conducted coordinated operations, such as Operation 'Park Strike Four,' targeting bandit hideouts and arresting 12 terror suspects tied to these groups, offering some respite to the affected communities. However, the situation remains precarious, with vulnerabilities persisting in the face of ongoing violence and kidnappings.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has responded to the crisis by providing logistical support to military personnel, including motorcycles for soldiers deployed in forested regions and local councils. The Nigerian Army continues its efforts through raids and arrests to eradicate the criminal elements from strategic forest locations like Kanji Lake National Park, aiming to establish long-term security for the residents.
- The Department of State Services (DSS), Army, and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) ought to collaborate with the police in addressing the escalating issues of kidnapping and banditry in Kwara State.
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other security agencies, including the DSS and Army, should focus on the ongoing war-and-conflicts, particularly the banditry and kidnappings, as highlighted in the general news and crime-and-justice sectors.
- Amid the persistent attacks by bandits and kidnappers in Kwara State, it is necessary for the government to strengthen its security measures to protect terrorized communities like Tashagi and Gbugbu.
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police, must prioritize the ongoing Kwara State security crisis in talks related to politics, as it is causing immense distress to residents like Ahmed Adamu Saba and his constituents.
- Ahmed Adamu Saba's plea for immediate intervention from security agencies in addressing the escalating security crisis in Kwara State highlights the need for the general public and local media to pay closer attention to ongoing events and release updates under the category of general news.
- As the situation in Kwara State remains precarious due to ongoing violence and criminal activities such as kidnapping, it is crucial for the government to adopt effective security strategies to ensure the safety and security of the people of Nigeria (Naija).
