Yoruba Union Accuses Gov AbdulRazaq Over Kwara Massacre, Says Governor Ignored Months Of Warnings Before Over 170 Were Killed

Ikeja,  Lagos State– The Yoruba Union, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has condemned Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, accusing him of gross negligence, incompetence and a total failure of leadership following the massacre of no fewer than 170 people by Boko Haram-linked terrorists in parts of the state.

The group alleged that the killings were not sudden or unexpected, but the outcome of months of ignored distress calls, intelligence reports and security warnings forwarded to the state government and relevant authorities, including the governor himself.

According to the union, Governor AbdulRazaq only reacted after the damage had been done, adopting a “fire brigade approach” to a crisis he was fully aware of long before terrorists stormed the affected communities and unleashed mass killings.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Convener of the union, Olusola Badero, and released by its Home Director, Princess Balogun, said residents of the affected areas, as well as traditional rulers, repeatedly alerted the local government councils and the Kwara State Government about the movement and assembly of heavily armed terrorists within nearby forests.

Despite these warnings, the group said the state government failed to take proactive steps to secure the communities, leaving residents exposed to a coordinated and well-planned attack.

“The governor was not ignorant of the looming danger. He was duly informed. The people cried out. The traditional institutions raised alarm. Local authorities were notified. Yet, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq chose to turn a deaf ear until over 170 innocent lives were brutally cut short,” the Union said.

The union further accused the governor of visiting the affected community only after the massacre, describing his appearance as hypocritical and opportunistic.

“He rushed to the community to mourn the very people he failed to protect. This is unacceptable. Leadership is about prevention, not condolence visits after mass burials,” the group said.

Raising serious questions about the management of security funds in the state, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá demanded transparency over the governor’s use of security vote allocations.

“One should ask Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq what he is using security vote funds to do, while those he is constitutionally mandated to protect were slaughtered like animals,” Yoruba Union stated.

“When last did he tell the people of Kwara State how much he receives as security votes and how those funds are being utilised? These are questions begging for answers.”

The union stressed that the primary responsibility of any governor is the protection of lives and property, insisting that Governor AbdulRazaq has “totally failed” in that duty.

“Governor AbdulRazaq swore an oath to protect the lives and properties of Kwarans. By every standard, he has failed woefully,” the statement added.

The group recalled that as far back as August 2025, residents of the Woro community reportedly noticed an increase in suspicious movements within surrounding forests and promptly informed the state government.

According to the union, Governor AbdulRazaq personally assured the community that soldiers would be deployed to secure the area.

“The failed governor reportedly told the people of Woro community that soldiers would be deployed to neutralise the threat. That promise was never fulfilled. Instead, innocent men, women and children were left at the mercy of terrorists,” the group said.

The union also accused the governor of misleading the public by allegedly downplaying the scale of the massacre.

While the state government reportedly put the death toll at 75, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá insisted that over 170 people were killed, accusing the administration of attempting to conceal the true magnitude of the tragedy.

“Governor AbdulRazaq lied to the public. The figure of 75 casualties is false and misleading. More than 170 lives were lost, and mass graves bear silent testimony to this horror,” they alleged.

The group warned that Nigeria’s security crisis would persist if citizens fail to hold political leaders accountable for preventable tragedies.

“Nigeria can never be secure if Nigerians continue to excuse leadership failure. What happened in Kwara was a long, coordinated attack which the state government was aware of, yet failed to prevent,” it said.

The union further highlighted a pattern of insecurity in Kwara State, citing the abduction of two traditional rulers by terrorists who were only released after millions of naira were paid as ransom.

It also noted that several communities across the state have been abandoned and deserted due to the persistent influx of terrorists, while the state government failed to empower, equip or support local vigilante groups capable of providing first-line defence.

“Communities are emptying out. Fear has taken over rural Kwara. Yet the governor failed to empower local vigilantes who understand the terrain and could have helped contain the threat,” the union said.

Describing the situation as a collapse of governance, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá noted that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has lost moral authority to continue in office.

“The governor has failed the people of Kwara State. This level of incompetence, negligence and insensitivity cannot be justified,” the group said.

“The honourable option left for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is to resign and allow accountability to take its course.”