By Omowumi Omotosho
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has issued a stern warning over what it describes as the alarming slide of the state into the grip of terrorism and insecurity under Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s administration. The party strongly condemned recent violent attacks and abductions, accusing the state government of failing to address the deteriorating security situation with urgency and sincerity.
In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the PDP cited recent coordinated attacks by gunmen in Kaiama, Baruten, and the Obbo-Aiyegunle axis as clear evidence of the growing threat.
“In just one week, we’ve witnessed horrifying attacks – from the abduction of seven passengers on the Obbo-Aiyegunle road to the gruesome killing of no fewer than six residents in Kaiama and Baruten. These are coordinated terrorist activities, and they point to a dangerous trend,” the party said.
According to the PDP, these attacks are not isolated but part of a broader pattern of lawlessness and banditry creeping into Kwara State – a state that was, until recently, considered one of the most peaceful in Nigeria.
“Our party considers this deterioration in security as a direct result of the governor’s failure to govern from Kwara and provide proactive leadership, clear policy direction, and failure to make effective utilization of security votes to support the security agencies in the state,” the party declared
The party took particular issue with Governor Abdulrazaq’s recent condolence visit to Kaiama, describing it as hollow and politically motivated.
“The Governor’s recent condolence visit to Kaiama without visiting the actual scenes of these horrifying attacks or visiting the affected bereaved families, who are still mourning their lost loved ones, is the height of political rascality, insensitivity, and gross disrespect for the sanctity of human life. Such a visit, staged merely for photo adverts portrays the Governor as a failed leader who’s disconnected from the agony and fears of the people he claims to serve,” the party noted.
Even more troubling, the party noted, is the growing trend of residents in affected areas contributing their own money to fund local vigilantes due to a lack of state support.
“It is also disturbing that residents of Kaiama, Baruten, Obo-Aiyegunle, and other restive areas across the state have now resorted to self-help by contributing money to procure ammunition and logistics for local vigilantes to enhance their security. This is happening while the Governor sits on undisclosed billions of naira in security votes, with no visible impact on the state’s security apparatus,” the party stated further.
The party also criticized the alleged diversion of security patrol vehicles, which it claims were bought with local government funds but are now being used by local government chairmen as personal vehicles.
“The PDP also raises strong exceptions to the diversion of security patrol vehicles procured with local government funds. These vehicles, instead of being deployed for community policing and rapid response operations, have been brazenly hijacked by appointed local government chairmen and shamelessly converted to personal utility vehicles being used for domestic errands,” the statement read.
The party while condoling with the people of Baruten and Kaiama, called on the Governor to retrieve the vehicles from private use and redeploy them to support local vigilante efforts. It also demanded that the state government release emergency intervention funds to affected families and visit the actual scenes of the attacks.
“We call on Governor Abdulrahman to immediately direct the withdrawal of these security vehicles from private use and ensure they are deployed to local security outfits to enhance the welfare of local vigilantes’ corpses.
While we extend our condolences to all bereaved families affected by these mindless attacks, we call on Mr Governor to go back to Kaiama and Baruten, visit the crime scenes and the affected families, and also release emergency intervention funds to these mourning families. We also urge security agencies to intensify rescue operations and ensure all those abducted are safely returned to their families,” the statement concluded.
