Opinions
Kidnapped Kings, Beaten Mothers, Silenced Voices: A Grim Portrait Of Kwara Under AbdulRazaq, By Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed
While families of kidnapped victims are in pain—running helter-skelter, selling assets, borrowing money, and living in constant fear—the state government appears largely unconcerned about their plight.
Kwara State has increasingly become a hub for terrorist attacks and kidnappings, raising serious concerns about public safety and governance.
In a troubling development, a traditional ruler in Kwara South, Oba S. Y. Olaonipekun, along with one of his sons was kidnapped on Wednesday night, further worsening the already fragile security situation in the area.
As a result of the growing insecurity, public schools have reportedly been shut down across some local government areas, disrupting education and instilling fear in parents, teachers, and students.
This is not an isolated incident. In December last year, another monarch was abducted, and his family was forced to pay a ransom of ₦20 million to secure his release.
In the same December, last year, the families of five government construction workers abducted by suspected terrorists in Kwara State issued a desperate appeal to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, following a ₦500 million ransom demand by the kidnappers, who reportedly insist on negotiating directly with the Kwara State Government.
These repeated attacks show a dangerous pattern: terrorists are now deliberately targeting traditional rulers, government workers and other vulnerable members of society. Disturbingly, the kidnappers have allegedly stated that they are only interested in negotiating directly with the state government, leaving families of victims helpless and ttraumatised
While families of kidnapped victims are in pain—running helter-skelter, selling assets, borrowing money, and living in constant fear—the state government appears largely unconcerned about their plight.
This is despite the fact that the government receives security vote funds every month, with little or no transparency or accountability on how these funds are utilized to protect lives and property.
Rather than decisively addressing the worsening insecurity, the state government seems more focused on silencing critics and threatening individuals, journalists, and media platforms that report the grim reality of insecurity in Kwara State.
This approach only deepens public distrust and gives the impression that the government is more interested in controlling narratives than solving real problems.
Even more worrisome is the role of political bandits who continue to promote impunity and shield failure. However, history teaches us that the law of karma is inevitable, and no government can escape the consequences of neglecting its people.
If Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has run out of ideas on how to secure the state from terrorists and kidnappers, he should be humble enough to consult the opposition and other critical stakeholders for solutions.
Alternatively, he should consider stepping aside, if only to preserve the “good legacy” he claims he wants to leave behind. A good legacy is built on protecting lives, not suppressing voices.
Intimidating journalists or critics will not solve insecurity. Instead, it exposes the incompetence and intolerance of the government to the wider world. In the digital age, the internet never forgets, and reputations—good or bad—are permanently recorded.
Kwarans should by now be seeing tangible results from the recently recruited forest guards, if indeed they were selected on merit rather than political connections. The absence of visible impact raises serious questions about the sincerity and effectiveness of this initiative.
Kwara South is bleeding heavily due to insecurity. Our collective values, pride, and dignity have been stripped away in a situation where traditional rulers—the custodians of our heritage, culture, and moral values—are held hostage by terrorists.
Even more painful is the treatment of our mothers, who were subjected to beating and harassment simply because they came to the Government House to protest insecurity, while their husbands and children remain in captivity.
Is this the kind of legacy Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq wants to leave behind—a legacy of fear, silence, and abandoned citizens?
The people of Kwara State deserve better: safety, accountability, compassion, and leadership that prioritises human lives above politics and propaganda.
