By: Sunday Ameh
Members of the Take It Back Movement (TIB) and youths from Kwara North on Thursday staged a protest at the Kwara State Government House in Ilorin over what they described as relentless killings, kidnappings, and worsening insecurity across five local government areas in the northern axis of the state.
The demonstrators, who converged in large numbers, carried placards with bold inscriptions condemning the rising violence in communities including Woro and Gbugbu, particularly in Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas.
It was gathered by Starnews NG the protesters were Chanting solidarity songs, and also declared that residents of Edu LGA were living under siege as bandit attacks, abductions, and killings continue unabated.
“Our region is under attack. Kwara North needs protection, not abandonment,” one placard read.
Another read, “If Ilorin can host corps members, it can also host IDPs. Stop shifting the burden to insecure communities.”
The protesters insisted that the demonstration was not politically motivated but rather a desperate appeal for urgent intervention as insecurity deepens across Kwara North.
“Protest is not chaos; it is a call for attention to the suffering in Kwara North,” one of the organisers said.
They accused the state government of failing to deploy adequate security measures to safeguard vulnerable rural communities, alleging that gunshots have become a nightly occurrence in several villages.
“The people of Kwara North are living in fear. Night after night, gunshots, kidnappings, and killings have become the new normal. How long will our communities continue to suffer in silence?” a youth leader said during the march.
Starnews NG also gathered that the protesters referenced what they described as the Woro massacre and repeated attacks on Gbugbu community, insisting that the victims must not be forgotten.
“Woro and Gbugbu victims deserve justice. Their lives must not be swept under the carpet,” another placard read.
According to the demonstrators, many residents have been displaced, while others are too afraid to farm or carry out daily economic activities due to persistent attacks.
They also warned against relocating internally displaced persons (IDPs) into communities they described as already unsafe.
“The government must prioritise protecting lives in Kwara North before relocating displaced persons into insecure zones,” one of the placards stated.
The protesters demanded immediate reinforcement of security personnel, improved surveillance in rural communities, and decisive action against armed groups terrorising the region.
They maintained that the protest remained peaceful and was aimed solely at drawing urgent government attention to what they described as a growing humanitarian and security crisis in Kwara North.
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