BREAKING: Mass Exodus in Kwara South as Kidnapping Crisis Forces Hundreds from Their Homes

Hundreds of residents in Kwara South have fled their ancestral homes following a disturbing escalation in kidnapping incidents, especially across Ifelodun Local Government Area, where suspected armed bandits now launch near-daily attacks.

A video obtained by Chronicles Reporters showed a resident, Ganiyu Babatunde, appealing passionately to the Kwara State Government for urgent intervention to rescue the communities from worsening insecurity.

Villages such as Sabe, Ologomo, Alabe, and Babanla in Ifelodun have been badly hit, forcing families to abandon homes and farmlands in search of safety.

According to findings by Chronicles Reporters, scores of men, women, and children were spotted at Oke-Ode garage with their belongings, anxiously waiting for vehicles to move them to safer locations.

Local sources disclosed that the fear of abduction has crippled daily life, leaving many residents too frightened to remain in their homes or tend to their farms. The continuous attacks have made survival in the area unbearable.

Some of those affected lamented that if the communities became completely deserted, it would undermine governance and erase their cultural heritage. They expressed concern that strangers could take over abandoned villages if residents permanently relocated.

Speaking in the video, Babatunde said: “Please, Kwara State Government, come to our aid. Since I have been traveling from Ajase to Oke-Ode, I’ve seen more than 10 vehicles packed with people escaping their ancestral homes. Some of them are coming from Babanla.”

He continued: “I’m presently at Oke-Ode Garage. Every available vehicle has gone to Sabe community to evacuate people. As you can see, many residents have brought their belongings here, desperate to leave.

“Kwara State Governor, please intervene. The insecurity in our communities is unbearable. Peaceful villages are now unsafe, and people are running for their lives.”

He further explained: “I have been here since morning. No vehicles are left; they’ve all gone to pick up people from other villages. Even motorcycles and a Dangote truck are being used to move families and their property.

“This is becoming a ghost town. Kidnappers have taken over our homes, and we are helpless. We beg the authorities to save us.”

Another resident added in despair: “May God see us through this. We don’t know why this is happening to us. Everyone is exhausted, and people are leaving one after the other.”

Recent Attacks in Kwara

On August 14, 2025, Chronicles Reporters reported that suspected bandits stormed Lataworo community in Edu Local Government Area, forcing residents to scatter for safety.

It was the second time the local government area had been attacked within a single day, throwing the community into confusion as villagers fled in fear. The number of those abducted during the incident could not be confirmed.

Earlier, on June 30, heavily armed bandits carried out coordinated strikes on three villages — Gada, Lataworo, and Kokodoko — all in Edu LGA. Several residents and local vigilantes sustained injuries during the assault.

The frequency of these attacks has heightened concerns across Kwara North and South, which have both been plagued by terrorism and mass abductions in recent months.

Similarly, on August 13, 2025, Chronicles Reporters documented another violent raid in Kwara North. Armed men stormed Gamalegi village in Lafiagi Emirate around 11 p.m., firing sporadically before abducting four residents and vanishing into the bush.

A witness, who spoke to NupekoTv-Lafiagi anonymously, described the invasion as “hell on earth,” lamenting that the attackers operated without resistance from security operatives.

The source revealed that the gunmen, heavily armed and organized, moved swiftly under the cover of night, whisking away their victims and plunging the community into fear and mourning.

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