The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday sounded the alarm over the worsening wave of insecurity in Kwara North Senatorial District, warning that persistent killings, kidnappings, attacks on communities, and the prolonged captivity of victims of the Woro massacre have plunged the region into fear and uncertainty.
The upper chamber also condemned the recent attack on the palace of the Emir of Yashikira, where armed criminals reportedly set the royal residence ablaze and abducted members of the monarch’s family, describing the incident as a direct assault on traditional institutions and community stability.
The concerns were raised during plenary through a motion sponsored by Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar (Kwara North), titled “Urgent Need for Federal Government Intervention to Address the Re-occurring Insecurity in Kwara North Senatorial District.” The session was presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Presenting the motion, Senator Umar stressed that security remains the foremost responsibility of government as enshrined in Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), lamenting that communities across Kwara North have continued to suffer relentless attacks by criminal elements.
According to him, the district has witnessed a disturbing escalation in violence marked by killings, kidnappings, destruction of property, and repeated attacks on innocent residents.
He particularly drew attention to the fate of victims abducted during the Woro massacre, noting that several women and children kidnapped in the attack remain in captivity months after the incident.
“Several months after the unfortunate Woro massacre, many women and children abducted during the attack remain in captivity, while their families continue to suffer untold hardship and psychological trauma,” Umar said.
The senator further informed lawmakers that armed criminals attacked and torched the palace of the Emir of Yashikira on the eve of the recent Sallah celebrations, abducting some of the monarch’s wives, children, and other family members.
He warned that the attack represented a dangerous erosion of respect for traditional authority and posed a serious threat to communal peace in the area.
Umar also highlighted the deteriorating security situation in Patigi and Edu local government areas, where communities have reportedly suffered repeated kidnappings and deadly raids.
He disclosed that criminal gangs recently invaded Lafiagi township, killing and abducting residents in what he described as evidence of the growing audacity and operational strength of armed groups terrorising the region.
The lawmaker attributed part of the challenge to the vast and difficult terrain around the Kainji Lake axis, noting that the national park, forest reserves, and adjoining ungoverned spaces have become safe havens for criminal elements operating across Kwara North and neighbouring states.
While commending the efforts of security agencies, vigilante groups, and community leaders, Umar maintained that the recurring attacks underscore the urgent need for stronger federal intervention.
He warned that failure to dismantle criminal networks operating from the Kainji Lake forest corridor could further embolden them and worsen the security crisis.
The senator also lamented the poor condition of road infrastructure across the district, arguing that bad roads have continued to hamper security operations and hinder economic activities.
Following deliberations, senators unanimously adopted the motion and called on the Federal Government to immediately strengthen security architecture in Kwara North through the establishment of additional military formations, deployment of more personnel and equipment, and intensified joint operations against criminal groups operating in the Kainji Lake axis and surrounding forests.
The Senate further urged the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue all kidnapped victims still being held across the district.
Lawmakers also called for the rehabilitation, reconstruction, and expansion of critical road infrastructure to improve accessibility, enhance security response, and boost socio-economic activities in the region.
In addition, the Senate urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to provide immediate humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation support to affected families and communities.
To ensure accountability, the Senate mandated its Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Army, Air Force, Police Affairs, Works, and Special Duties to engage relevant stakeholders and submit a report within four weeks on actions being taken to address the crisis.
The chamber concluded by observing a minute’s silence in honour of those killed in the attacks and extended condolences to bereaved families and affected communities across Kwara North.
