By Olayinka Iroye
The tragic events of Monday, May 12, 2025, in which four gallant Nigerian soldiers were ambushed and killed by insurgents along the Lake Chad axis, with their barracks subsequently razed, serve as a grim reminder that Nigeria is, indeed, under siege. This attack is not an isolated occurrence. It is part of a persistent and deeply troubling pattern of escalating violence, kidnappings, and ambushes that continue to erode public confidence in the nation’s security architecture.
What once seemed like a distant conflict confined to the North-East is now creeping steadily into the heart of the North-Central region. Alarming incidents in parts of Kwara State; the Osi–Obbo Aiyegunle axis and the Eleyin-Isanlu-Isin-Omu Aran corridor point to a troubling expansion of criminal networks. Even though arrests of suspected bandits have been made in areas like Kaiama in Kwara North, the increasing boldness, coordination, and sophistication of these attackers suggest that this is more than just criminal opportunism. It may reflect a deeper and more sinister collusion, possibly involving insiders within both civilian and intelligence circles.
How else can we explain the ease with which soldiers are ambushed, or civilians kidnapped in broad daylight without intervention? These are not random occurrences. They point to a breakdown of intelligence, surveillance, and trust. It is time we confront this reality with honesty and urgency.
Kwara State, long hailed as the “State of Harmony,” now stands dangerously close to a security breakdown. The state government must therefore act with deliberate urgency and strategic focus to prevent a slide into chaos.
Though I am not a military officer by training, I have had some exposure to survival and tactical training during my Rotaract days as number 1 Rotaractor in Nigeria through programmes like the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) at Yikpata, the Sea School in Lagos, and at Shere Hills in Jos. While this background does not make me a security expert, it underscores my long-standing interest in leadership, youth development, and national security.
Against this backdrop, I wish to re-emphasize the following urgent measures for both the State and Federal governments:
Kwara must invest heavily in aerial surveillance technologies, especially drones, and deploy trained intelligence officers to volatile regions such as Kaima, Baruten, Ekiti, and Oke–Ero. Intelligence gathering must become proactive, not reactive.
Local vigilante groups, properly trained, equipped, and monitored, should be formally integrated into the state’s security network. Traditional rulers, religious leaders, and Community Heads must be empowered to report suspicious activities swiftly and without fear.
There should be an immediate increase in the number of security checkpoints on major roads and highways. Joint military and police task forces should conduct regular patrols in forests, border communities, and other high-risk zones.
Kwara state must collaborate with telecommunications and financial service providers to trace ransom communications and payment trails. This will disrupt the financial lifelines of kidnappers and criminal syndicates.
Kwara must initiate strategic alliances with neighboring states like Kogi and Niger, and even with authorities in the Benin Republic, to secure shared borders and forest routes exploited by criminal elements.
The general public must be sensitized and encouraged to report suspicious activities. A reward system should be established for credible intelligence. Patriotism must be rekindled through education, media, and civic engagement.
Insecurity thrives where poverty and hopelessness prevail, and an idle hands is the devil’s workshop. Kwara must lead by example with rural employment schemes, vocational training programs, and expanded access to education, particularly in marginalized areas.
We must equally not forget those still held captive, especially victims abducted from the Osi–Obbo Aiyegunle area. Their continued captivity is a stain on our collective conscience. The state must prioritize their rescue and rehabilitate them upon release.
Kwara State is standing at the edge of a dangerous precipice. What begins as isolated incidents of kidnapping and robbery can quickly evolve into coordinated terror cells if not decisively contained. The time to act is now.
Let us rise together, as a government, as a people, and as a nation to protect our land, our dignity, and our future.
I rest my case.