(SINL NIGERIA) The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in Kwara South as a result of incessant security challenges near the forest belts of Ifelodun LGA as a rapid response hub.
Specifically, the Senate resolved to invite the Minister of Defence, Chief of Army Staff, and Inspector-General of Police to brief it in plenary on the coordinated federal response to insecurity in Kwara South and other parts of the country.
Additionally, it mandated its Committees on Defence, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence to undertake an on-the-spot assessment of affected areas and report back within two weeks.
This followed a motion of urgent national importance by Senator Ashiru Oyelola Yisa (Kwara South) on “Urgent Need to Address Insecurity in Kwara South Senatorial District, particularly Ifelodun Local Government Area – Call for Immediate and Comprehensive Federal Intervention”.
The senate also urged the Federal Government (FG) to mandate the Chief of Defence Staff and Inspector-General of Police to deploy additional troops and special units to clear the forests and restore normalcy in affected communities.
The Senate called on National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately provide humanitarian relief to displaced persons in Ifelodun and other affected LGAs, and urge the Federal Government to compensate families of fallen forest guards and vigilantes who died defending their communities.
Other resolutions include: “Direct relevant security agencies to identify and prosecute local collaborators aiding bandits’ operations in Kwara South.
“Observe one minute of silence in honor of the forest guards, vigilantes, traditional leaders, and innocent citizens who lost their lives to bandit attacks in Kwara South Senatorial District.
Senator Ashiru in the motion noted with grave concern the escalating insecurity in Kwara South Senatorial District, especially in Ifelodun Local Government Area, where bandit attacks, kidnappings, and killings have reached alarming levels in recent weeks, forcing thousands of residents to flee their communities.
He further noted that within the last month, no fewer than twelve (12) forest guards and local vigilante members were killed in an ambush by armed bandits in Oke-Ode, including Baale of Ogba-Ayo community, and several other traditional and community leaders were among those slain in separate incidents in Babanla, Sagbe, Oro Ago, Ganmu-Alheri, etc in Ifelodun, Isin, Ekiti and Oke Ero Local Government Areas.
“Concerned that at least 142 persons have been kidnapped and over 70 killed in the last twelve months across Kwara South, with no fewer than 25 communities deserted due to recurring attacks—leading to severe humanitarian displacement and disruption of social and economic life. Farms have been abandoned, roads have become unsafe, local economies are paralyzed, and schools have closed, thereby worsening poverty and increasing youth vulnerability to crime.
“Aware that these attacks are largely perpetrated by foreign armed elements in collaboration with local informants, operating from forest hideouts along the Kwara-Kogi-Ekiti boundary axis. While the Federal Government and security agencies have made some interventions, including sporadic patrols and raids, the responses remain episodic, inadequate, and reactive, leaving vast ungoverned spaces under the control of criminal gangs.
“Disturbed that local security volunteers and vigilantes who serve as first responders in most cases lack adequate equipment, mobility, protection, or insurance, yet continue to sacrifice their lives in defense of their communities.
“Recognizes that sustained insecurity in Kwara South, if not urgently addressed, may spread to other parts of the North Central and South West geopolitical zones, thereby threatening national stability”.
