The escalating insecurity in Kwara: A cry for help

The growing insecurity in Kwara State, in particular, and Nigeria at large has become a source of grave concern. The persistent cases of kidnapping, killings and abductions across the country haven’t only claimed lives and shattered families but have also forced many Nigerians to abandon their homes in search of safety, particularly in urban centers.

While insecurity has continued to pose a national challenge, the situation in parts of Kwara North deserves urgent attention. Communities that once depended on farming and other rural economic activities for survival are increasingly living in fear, with their livelihoods threatened by the activities of armed groups.

In Kwara State, the security crisis has been particularly troubling in parts of Kwara North, including Kaiama and Edu Local Government Areas. In Edu and neighbouring communities, the situation reportedly became more intense around mid-2025, following communal clashes between Fulani herders and residents of Lata in Patigi Local Government Area.

What initially appeared to be a localised conflict subsequently developed into a broader security concern affecting communities across Patigi and Edu LGAs. The consequences have been devastating, especially for rural dwellers whose survival depends largely on agriculture.

Throughout 2025, several farmers were reportedly abducted from their farmlands. The resulting fear and uncertainty prevented many from harvesting their crops, leaving families with little or no means of livelihood. For some, the inability to return to their farms has continued into 2026, deepening the hardship and economic vulnerability of already struggling households.

Beyond the immediate threat to lives, the crisis has disrupted agricultural production, weakened local economic activities and heightened the fear of displacement. When farmers can’t safely access their farmlands, the consequences extend beyond individual families to food security, rural development and the wider economy.

Sadly, despite reports of ransom payments and the release of some kidnapped victims, the threat of abduction has persisted. Recent cases have further highlighted the vulnerability of residents in these communities and the urgent need for more decisive action by the relevant security agencies and government authorities.

One such case is that of Favour Legbo, whose abduction has become a painful reminder of the plight of ordinary citizens caught in the grip of insecurity.

Favour worked as a fuel attendant at a filling station in Yana Tsonga (Tsonga Junction), within the Tsaragi district of Edu Local Government Area. On the evening of August 1 2026, armed kidnappers reportedly stormed the station and abducted two female attendants.

Since then, the families of the victims have reportedly been confronted with ransom demands that have placed an unbearable burden on them. The amount initially demanded was said to be N100 million before it was reportedly reduced to N10 million.

For families living in communities dominated by peasant farming, such sums are beyond imagination. These are households whose daily survival depends on modest earnings from farming and other small-scale activities. Raising millions of naira at short notice is virtually impossible, particularly when insecurity has already undermined their sources of income.

The families have continued to appeal for financial assistance to secure the safe release of the abducted women. Yet, despite their efforts, they have reportedly struggled to raise even N1 million towards meeting the demands.

Their predicament raises a painful question: what happens when citizens are abducted and their families lack the financial means to negotiate their release?

No family should have to endure the agony of uncertainty while struggling to raise an impossible sum of money. Neither should the ability to secure a loved one’s freedom depend on whether a family can afford a ransom.

However, ransom payments cannot provide a lasting solution to the crisis. Beyond the immediate plight of the victims, there is an urgent need for the government and security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve security coverage in vulnerable communities, protect farming routes and farmlands, and ensure that perpetrators are identified and brought to justice.

The state and federal governments must also work together to address the security challenges confronting rural communities in Kwara North. Security interventions shouldn’t be limited to major towns and urban centers; remote settlements, border communities and farming areas must receive adequate protection as well.

Furthermore, affected families require more than words of sympathy. They need practical support, effective communication with security agencies and urgent interventions aimed at securing the safe return of their loved ones.

The case of Favour Legbo and her fellow victim shouldn’t be treated as an isolated incident. It represents the fears of countless families who live under the constant threat of abduction and the uncertainty of whether their loved ones will return home safely.

As concerned citizens, community leaders, civil society organisations, well-meaning Nigerians and the media raise their voices, the plight of these families must not be allowed to fade into the background. Their communities deserve to live, farm, trade and raise their children without fear.

The people of Kwara North aren’t asking for special privileges, they are asking for the most basic responsibility of government: the protection of lives and property.

The time to act is now. The government must intensify efforts to restore security to the affected communities, while all relevant stakeholders must rally behind the families of the abducted women and support efforts to secure their safe release.

Favour Legbo and the other abducted victim must not become another forgotten name in Nigeria’s growing list of kidnapping cases. Their families deserve hope, their communities deserve peace, and every Nigerian deserves the right to live without fear.

 Jiya Peter Idowu wrote from Kwara [email protected]