Residents of Idofin Odo Ashe community in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State have staged a protest over relentless attacks, killings and kidnappings by terrorists who have reportedly invaded the community, forcing many residents to abandon their homes.
The protest, which involved elderly women, youths and other residents of the community, was held amid growing fear and frustration as locals say insecurity has worsened over the past eight months with little or no intervention from authorities.
During the protest, residents marched through parts of the community carrying placards with various inscriptions highlighting their plight and calling on the government to urgently intervene before the town becomes completely deserted.
Some of the placards read: “End Insecurity in Idofin Odo Ashe, We Sleep In Fear Everyday,” “Idofin Odo Ashe Needs Security, Do Not Abandon Rural Communities,” “We Need Peace, Government of Kwara State Come To Our Aid, Idofin Odo Ashe Is Bleeding,” and “Innocent Souls Are Brutally Murdered In Idofin Odo Ashe, Come To Our Aid.”
Residents said the protest was their desperate attempt to draw the attention of the Kwara State Government and security agencies to the worsening security crisis in the community.
According to eyewitnesses, elderly women and young people in large numbers trooped out to express their anger and fear, lamenting that bandits and kidnappers now operate freely in the area.
One elderly woman who spoke during the protest appealed directly to the state government for urgent intervention, saying the community was gradually becoming deserted due to persistent attacks.
“Kwara State Government, please help us. Our community is becoming deserted,” she cried. “People are leaving Idofin Odo Ashe because bandits killed a young man. We are living in fear every day.”
She said many families had already fled the town while others were preparing to leave if the situation continued.
Another protester who spoke to SaharaReporters on Thursday said kidnappers had been operating almost daily in the community for about eight months, attacking residents without resistance.
The protester said, “We citizens are calling on the Government of Kwara State and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to help stop the terrorists and the daily killings and kidnappings of our people.”
He added that the situation had reached a dangerous level as criminals were now operating freely.
“Kidnappers strike Idofin Odo Ashe almost every day. For about eight months now, they have been killing and kidnapping people freely,” the protester said.
“The citizens are running away from the town. The situation is very pathetic.
Residents warned that if urgent action is not taken by the government and security agencies, Idofin Odo Ashe and neighbouring communities could soon become completely deserted as people continue to flee for safety.
They called on the Kwara State Government and federal security authorities to immediately deploy adequate security personnel to the community and surrounding areas to halt the activities of terrorists and kidnappers threatening their lives and livelihoods.