‘Communities Are Turning To Ghost Towns’: Security Watch Coordinator Raises Alarm Over Mass Displacement In Kwara South

Ilorin,  Kwara State- Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, Coordinator of the Joint Security Watch Kwara South, has raised a fresh alarm over worsening insecurity across Kwara South, revealing that dozens of communities have been deserted as residents flee persistent attacks, kidnappings, and threats to their lives.

Speaking on Tuesday, Elder Oyin-Zubair said the crisis had reached a breaking point, with entire villages emptied, farmlands abandoned, and local economies collapsing under the weight of fear.

“There was a time we raised the alarm that communities in Kwara South were deserting their ancestral homes due to insecurity. We were dismissed. The Police denied it publicly. We were cowed down and branded alarmists for stating the obvious,” he said.

According to him, the early warning signs were visible in communities such as Ganmu Alheri, Oloruntele, and Budo Idowu, where families began fleeing quietly under the cover of darkness.

“It began with early signs — Ganmu Alheri, Oloruntele, Budo Idowu — villages where families slipped away at night with mats on their heads. We reported it. We were disbelieved,” he added.

Elder Oyin-Zubair disclosed that the scale of displacement has since grown significantly. By the end of 2025, at least 28 communities in Ifelodun Local Government Area alone had been deserted.

The crisis later spread to Isin Local Government Area, where Oro-Ago, Omugo, Ahun, Oke-Oyan, Owa-Kajola, Owa-Onire, and Oba communities were also abandoned by residents.

He further revealed that a major road construction project linking Pamo/Oba junction through Oba to Owa-Onire was halted after workers were kidnapped, underscoring the extent of insecurity in the region.

“The Owu Falls Road being constructed by the Kwara State Government from Pamo/Oba junction through Oba to Owa-Onire was equally abandoned after road workers were kidnapped,” he said.

The situation, he noted, has worsened following the recent abduction of a monarch in Agunjin District.

“Following the recent kidnapping of the Monarch of Olayinka in Agunjin District of Ifelodun LGA, many communities along that axis are becoming ghost towns. Farms are abandoned. Schools are shut. Markets are dead. The same reality we warned about has become undeniable,” Elder Oyin-Zubair stated.

He, however, accused some government officials of attempting to suppress information about the crisis, alleging that there is growing pressure on communities and journalists to downplay or deny incidents of attacks and ransom demands.

“Some government officials appear jittery about writers and journalists, going as far as warning communities to deny attacks or ransom demands. We ask plainly: is silencing victims helping the situation?” he queried.

“When a community is told to say ‘nothing happened’ while its people sleep in the bush, that community is abandoned twice — first to the kidnappers, then to official denial,” he added.

Elder Oyin-Zubair stressed that while his group understands the need for operational secrecy in security matters, there is a clear distinction between protecting sensitive information and concealing the reality on the ground.

“Let it be clear: we do other things behind the scene with security agencies — from our movements to affected communities for investigation, to intelligence sharing privately. We understand operational security,” he explained.

“What is dangerous and not allowed is divulging security strategies, troop locations, or rescue plans. What is necessary and required is reporting that villages are empty, that monarchs are kidnapped, and that roads are abandoned. One endangers soldiers. The other saves citizens.”

He called for improved collaboration between government authorities, security agencies, and the media, recommending periodic briefings to ensure accurate information flow and build public trust.

“We therefore suggest periodic briefings by government officials, including security agencies, with writers and journalists. When facts are shared responsibly, rumour dies. When media is carried along, public trust rises. The government stands to gain more from partnership than from suppression,” he said.

Highlighting the role of his organization, Elder Oyin-Zubair said the Joint Security Watch remains committed to documenting incidents, advocating for affected communities, and supporting efforts to restore normalcy.

“This is why we write. All through our reports, we write to mobilize security agencies to act. We report their successes when they come. We give voice to those who left their homes, urging them to return when safety is restored,” he said.

He also urged humanitarian organizations, including the Nigerian Red Cross Society and other non-governmental organisations, to step in and provide relief for displaced residents.

“Our goal is not to de-market Kwara. Our goal is to bring our people home,” he added.

Reaffirming his stance, Elder Oyin-Zubair maintained that acknowledging the crisis is the first step toward solving it.

“Denial does not protect people; truth and action do. We will keep documenting, appealing, and monitoring — until displacement ends and resettlement begins,” he said.

“Facts don’t need permission to be true.”