The Joint Security Watch Kwara South has dismissed claims that banditry and kidnapping have rendered large parts of Kwara South deserted and weakened the zone’s electoral strength, describing the narrative as misleading and politically motivated ahead of the APC governorship contest.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the group said insecurity in parts of Kwara State should not be used as a basis for political exclusion or to undermine the voting strength of Kwara South.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the Coordinator of Joint Security Watch Kwara South, Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, stated that criminal activities in the state were largely linked to porous borders and ungoverned forest areas, insisting that such incidents were not indigenous to the people of Kwara South.
“Banditry and kidnapping in Kwara entered through ungoverned forests and weak border points. They are not indigenous to Kwara South and do not define our people,” he said.
According to him, attacks recorded in some communities were mostly concentrated around isolated routes and settlements with limited security presence. He added that prompt intelligence gathering and coordinated security operations had helped repel several attacks, while many displaced residents had since returned to their farms and businesses.
Oyin-Zubair also defended the political relevance of Kwara South within the ruling APC, citing electoral performances from the 2019 and 2023 general elections. He claimed that the region recorded stronger electoral results for the APC than other senatorial districts in the state.
According to him, APC secured about 68 per cent electoral success in Kwara South, compared to 35 per cent in Kwara Central, which he alleged was promoting the narrative that insecurity had diminished the voting population of Kwara South.
The group further highlighted ongoing security efforts across the zone, including community-based patrols, ward-level early warning systems, aerial surveillance over identified flashpoints, and joint operations involving the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and local vigilante groups.
The operations, according to the statement, are currently active across local government areas such as Irepodun, Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Isin, and Offa.
“Kwara South is securing its land, protecting its people, and restoring normal life and economic activity. We will not accept the use of insecurity as a tool for political exclusion,” Oyin-Zubair added.
The group urged members of the public to rely on verified information, maintaining that Kwara South remained safe enough for residents to live, farm, trade, and participate in elections.
