Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kwara South Development Forum has issued an urgent and emotional appeal to the Federal and Kwara State Governments, demanding the immediate rescue of two women abducted by suspected bandits in Ifelodun Local Government Area, while accusing the state government of misleading residents about the true state of security in the region. The group, in a statement issued on Sunday, August 23, 2026, by its Convener, Obashola Ayomide Ridwan, through the organisation's Secretary, Olasehinde O. Oluwatoba, said the first wife of the Baale (community head) of Dabu community, popularly known as Iya Ayoka, was kidnapped on Friday night, August 21, 2026. The group also demanded the immediate rescue of Babatunde Fasilat, a 23-year-old woman from Wande community in the same local government area, who was abducted by bandits on July 15, 2026, and whose TikTok account is now being used by her captors to make posts and communicate with the public.
The abduction of Iya Ayoka, the first wife of the Baale of Dabu community, represents yet another escalation in the wave of banditry that has turned Kwara South into a theatre of terror, where communities live in constant fear of nocturnal raids, kidnappings and extortion. The Kwara South Development Forum, in its statement, declared that it was not ready to pay any ransom for the release of the victims, insisting that the government must take responsibility for the security of its citizens. "We are not ready to pay a dime. The government needs to bring her back to us," the group declared. "The woman is popularly called Iya Ayoka. She has been supportive to many people in her area during this hardship." The group painted a grim picture of the impact of the attacks on the local economy and social life, revealing that many markets have been shut down, nearby villages are deserted, and residents are begging for food. "We have used all our money to pay ransom, so we are tired," the forum lamented, capturing the exhaustion and despair of a community that has been forced to bear the burden of a security crisis that the state government appears unable or unwilling to address.
The abduction of Iya Ayoka is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern of attacks that have plagued Ifelodun Local Government Area and other parts of Kwara South. Just weeks before, on July 15, 2026, bandits had invaded Wande community, shooting the father of 23-year-old Babatunde Fasilat before abducting her from her room and demanding a staggering N20 million ransom. The attackers, four in number, stormed the family home, and while the father attempted to defend himself, they went straight to Fasilat's room and kidnapped her. The group disclosed that the abductors have since taken control of Fasilat's TikTok account and are using it to make posts, a chilling development that has raised concerns among her family and residents. The use of a kidnapped victim's social media account to communicate with the public is a new and disturbing tactic that adds a layer of psychological torment to the already unbearable ordeal faced by the families of abductees.
The Kwara South Development Forum also accused the Kwara State Government of misleading residents about the security situation in Kwara South, repeatedly assuring the people that the region is secure despite persistent attacks, kidnappings and displacement of residents. The group alleged that government officials had actively discouraged residents from publicising attacks and kidnappings in the area, a claim that, if true, represents a profound betrayal of the public trust and a dangerous attempt to paper over a crisis that is spiralling out of control. "And the government doesn't want us to publicise the attacks and kidnappings, while the insecurity in our region has not stopped," the group said. The forum further revealed that it had repeatedly contacted the Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area over the security situation but that despite assurances, little or no action had been taken to protect residents. "We have been calling on the Ifelodun Local Government Chairman, and he has been assuring us, but nothing has been done," the group said.
The deteriorating security situation in Kwara South has forced many residents to flee their communities, with the Kwara South Development Forum noting that those who had previously fled were gradually returning, only to face fresh attacks as the bandits restrategise. "People are coming back to their communities gradually while the bandits restrategise and make fresh attacks," the group warned. The cycle of displacement, return and renewed attacks has created a humanitarian crisis that has received far too little attention from the national media and the federal government. The group's demand for urgent intervention from both the Federal and Kwara State Governments is a cry for help from a community that has been abandoned by the very institutions that are meant to protect it.
The latest abduction of Iya Ayoka has heightened fear among residents of Ifelodun Local Government Area, where communities have continued to express fears over attacks and abductions by armed groups. The development comes amid persistent reports of kidnappings and other attacks by suspected bandits and terrorists in communities across Kwara State, raising fundamental questions about the government's ability to protect its citizens and the effectiveness of the security architecture in the North-Central region. The Kwara South Development Forum's statement is a damning indictment of the state government's handling of the security crisis, accusing it of complacency, denial and a failure to act decisively to protect its citizens. As the families of Iya Ayoka and Babatunde Fasilat wait in anguish for news of their loved ones, the Kwara South Development Forum has made it clear that it will not remain silent in the face of government inaction. The group's demand for transparency and accountability is a challenge to the authorities to step up and fulfil their primary responsibility of protecting the lives and property of the people they are sworn to serve. For the people of Kwara South, the time for empty assurances is over; the time for action is now.
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