BREAKING: Hundreds Flee Homes In Kwara South As Rise In Kidnapping Sparks Mass Exodus

Hundreds of residents in Kwara South have abandoned their ancestral homes following a surge in kidnapping incidents, particularly in Ifelodun Local Government Area, where attacks by suspected armed bandits have become a daily occurrence.

A video obtained by SaharaReporters shows a resident, identified as Ganiyu Babatunde, pleading with the Kwara State Government to intervene and protect the people from worsening insecurity urgently.

Communities such as Sabe, Ologomo, Alabe, and Babanla in Ifelodun Local Government Area are among the hardest hit, with families forced to flee in large numbers.

SaharaReporters gathered that many residents, including women and children, were seen at Oke-Ode garage with their belongings, desperately seeking vehicles to convey them to safer locations.

Locals say the wave of kidnappings has left them living in fear, with many abandoning their farms, homes, and businesses as the insecurity crisis deepens.

Some of the affected people lamented that if their communities became deserted, there would be no one left for the government to govern.

They expressed frustration, explaining that if the rightful owners abandoned their ancestral homes, strangers could easily take over their heritage.

A resident, who identified himself as Babatunde, said, “Please, Kwara State Government, come to our aid. Since I have been travelling from Ajase to Oke-Ode, I have encountered more than 10 vehicles filled with people fleeing their ancestral homes with their belongings. Some of them are even coming from Babanla.”

“I’m at Oke-Ode Garage. All the vehicles here have left for Sabe community to convey people who are running away from their homes. As you can see, I’m at Oke-Ode garage right now. Some people just brought their belongings here, trying to flee.

“Kwara State Governor, please come to our aid. The issue of insecurity in our communities is terrifying us. We don’t know what to do anymore.

“We are using this opportunity to call on the Kwara State Government and those at the helm of affairs. Communities that used to live peacefully are no longer peaceful.

“I have been here since morning, and there is no vehicle left. They have all gone to other communities to pick up people, even using motorcycles. A Dangote truck is being used to convey people and their belongings.

“Please, Kwara State Governor, come to our aid. We are in Oke-Ode community, and everyone is fleeing. Kidnappers have turned our community into a deserted place.”

“May God help us and see us through. We don’t know what we have done to deserve this. We are tired, and people are leaving one after the other,” he added.

Recent Attacks In Kwara

On August 14, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that gunmen suspected to be bandits were attacking Lataworo community in the Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, forcing residents to flee for safety.

It marked the second armed incursion in the local government within a single day.

Sources told SaharaReporters that the assault threwthe community into chaos, with villagers abandoning their homes in fear.

The exact number of victims kidnapped during the attack could not be confirmed at the time.

Similarly, on June 30, suspected armed bandits carried out coordinated attacks on three villages — Gada, Lataworo, and Kokodoko — all in Edu Local Government Area, injuring several residents and local vigilantes.

The recent surge in violence has raised alarm across Kwara North and South, regions already struggling with persistent terrorist attacks in recent months.

Kwara State has also experienced a worrying increase in kidnappings and ransom demands.

On August 13, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that a group of terrorists had unleashed yet another night of terror in Kwara North, abducting four residents of Gamalegi village in Lafiagi Emirate, Kwara State, during a late-night raid.

The attack, which occurred at about 11 pm, threw the sleepy community into chaos as gunmen stormed in, firing sporadically before whisking away their victims into the bush.

A resident who spoke to NupekoTv-Lafiagi under condition of anonymity described the scene as “hell on earth,” adding that the attackers operated without any resistance from security forces.

The source said the gunmen, heavily armed, invaded Gamalegi under the cover of darkness and seized four villagers before disappearing into the bush.