An ENACT delegation visited communities in Ifelodun local government on Wednesday August 20th, 2025 to assess the living situation in the towns in question and come up with findings on security issues.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s Special Assistant on Digital Innovations, Hon. Ishola Kayode, Elder Oyin Zubair Olaitan, a community development advocate, Hon. Sulaiman Dudu, Kwara State APC Youth Leader was among members of the delegation.
ENACT is the brainchild of Chief Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun, who represents North Central on the Board of TETFUND.
The delegation that visited the communities on behalf of Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi was tasked with identifying with victims of banditry, assessing damages, getting first-hand information, and assuring residents of the government’s commitment to restoring peace.
The towns visited by the delegation include Ganmu-Ahleri, Babanla, Oreke-Oke, Oreke-Isale, and Oreke-Okegbo, during which they engaged directly with residents, victims, vigilante groups, and community leaders.
In Ganmu-Ahleri, the team met a local pastor who said his family has been displaced while lamenting that most homes in the area have been deserted, with residents relocating to safer communities like Oke-Ode.
In Babanla, the team observed the absence of the usually vibrant market day, a reflection of the security fear that has gripped the town. Community members, mostly youths and women, welcomed the delegation warmly and shared harrowing accounts of the latest attacks while expressing gratitude to the governor for his ongoing efforts.
In the Oreke communities, the delegation interacted with miners and vigilantes who shared intelligence on bandits activities and called for greater logistical support, including arms and ammunition, to enable them to defend their communities effectively.
The delegation also presented its key observations.
‘Key Observations
1: Residents across the affected areas have been displaced from their homes and farms, creating acute shortages of food and water.
2: Fear of night-time raids has forced many to abandon farming and trading activities, leading to hunger and economic hardship.
3: Vigilantes and community volunteers remain committed to defending their people but lack adequate resources and protection.
Actions Taken*
1: The delegation documented losses of lives, properties, and goods looted during the attacks.
2: Residents were encouraged to remain hopeful and united while security agencies intensify operations.
3: A comprehensive report of claims and recommendations is being compiled for onward submission to relevant authorities’ the delegation submitted.
The delegation also noted based on the information at their disposal, government at all levels are dealing with the issue of insecurity and are already taking necessary measures to put an end to this and ensure return of normalcy.
As a way to motivate some of our vigilantes and local hunters, Engr. Nurudeen Adeyemi (ENACT) has announced the formation of a 10 million Naira Kwara South Security Trust Fund that will provide death benefits of 250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand naira) to fallen vigilantes and local hunters families that die in the course of active duty and 100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) for those that get injured during active service as a stop gap measure while encouraging the State government to provide them with death and injury benefits as well.
The ENACT delegation urged calm while noting that tackling insecurity in the state requires short term and long term solutions.
The immediate solutions will according to the delegation address current problems but will not resolve the root cause.
Criminals will usually lie low in a hideout to avoid being found by the security agencies and the main challenge is our unguarded forests which they have been using as hideouts .
The forests traverse Kogi , Kwara, Niger and Ekiti states and that is why , we have had cases of people getting abducted in a state and found in another state.
They do move the abductees from one state to another through the forests.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq working with the National Security Adviser has provided necessary logistical support to the military and other security agencies to provide immediate solutions of launching military operations that will flush out the criminals from their hideouts and restore peace to our communities .
Armored personnel carriers and other strategic assets have been mobilized and are currently stationed at strategic locations and we will increase security presence. These military operations will see the bandits and other non state actors flushed out and eliminated. The coming days portend good news for our people.
The long-term solution will be to ensure complete obliteration of insecurity in the state by denying unwanted persons access to the forests and measures to have the forests policed are underway. We would recall the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq working with the National Security Adviser and the Presidency ensured the successful creation of forest guards that would be recruited, trained, and armed to combat terrorists and bandits in our National Forests.
The process of establishing the forest guards is almost at the final stage, recruitment of forest guards has been done, they are undergoing training and they will soon be deployed to the forests and their permanent presence with needed equipment will help to keep unwanted persons away from there. They will be able to fight fire for fire on a consistent and permanent basis.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has made the security of residents of Kwara State among his top priorities and he has continued to do the needful in that respect.
The governor has at different times made brand new patrol vehicles and motorcycles available to support and ease the movement of security personnel while the state government has continued to step up collaborations to improve security in the state.
Many of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq security initiatives include: constant contact and communication with the Office of National Security Adviser; holding and leading strategic meetings with security commanders, traditional rulers, and local vigilantes; and provision of Logistical support like patrol vehicles and motorcycles to enhance operational capabilities in patrolling forests and dismantling criminal hideouts. To boost the morale of our gallant security forces, death benefits in the millions are routinely paid to fallen troops.
In due course, peace shall reign in Kwara South. We implore our people to support the efforts of the administration and our security forces by providing actionable intelligence. This is the time to rally together and confront these criminals with a common and united front.
We wish our gallant security forces victory on the battlefield and help restore peace and normalcy. Every lover of Kwara South will have much to do in the aftermath by encouraging the safe returns of our people to their ancestral land and prevent the takeover of unwanted guests of our towns and villages.
Kwara South is known for peace. Kwara State is the state of harmony for a reason. All these too shall pass God willing.
ENACT MEDIA TEAM
