The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in the Kwara South Senatorial District to tackle the growing insecurity in the region.
The senators proposed that the base be located near the forest belts of the Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state to serve as a rapid response hub.
The call followed a motion sponsored by Senator Lola Ashiru, who highlighted the alarming rate of kidnappings, killings, and attacks by armed bandits in the area.
According to Ashiru, over 142 people have been kidnapped and more than 70 killed in the past year, with at least 25 communities abandoned due to repeated attacks.
In just the past month, no fewer than 12 forest guards and local vigilante members were ambushed and killed by armed bandits in Oke-Ode.
“Among those slain were traditional rulers and community leaders from Ogba-Ayo, Babanla, Sagbe, Oro Ago, and Ganmu-Alheri,” Ashiru stated.
He also noted that in the last year, over 142 people had been kidnapped and more than 70 killed across Kwara South, with at least 25 communities abandoned due to repeated attacks, leading to humanitarian crises and social disruption.
The Senate therefore urged the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector-General of Police to deploy more troops and special units to clear criminal elements from the forests and restore peace in the affected areas.
The resolution aimed to address the humanitarian crises and social disruption caused by the insecurity.
Also, the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has assured that his administration was committed to protecting lives and property across the state.
He vowed to fight insecurity with every resource at his disposal and warned criminals that Kwara would not be a hiding place for them.
“I have assurances from the security forces to smoke out and eliminate the criminals from their hideouts. We will fight insecurity with every resource at our disposal.
“Kwara will not be a hiding place for criminals. To any criminal who seeks to destabilise the peace in Kwara, you may run, but you cannot escape justice,” he stated after a security council meeting.
