Group Rejects Insecurity Claims in Kwara South Ahead of Election

The Joint Security Watch Kwara South has strongly refuted recent claims suggesting that escalating insecurity has diminished the electoral significance of the Kwara South district. This group, a prominent socio-security organization within the region, asserts that such narratives are not only misleading but are also strategically deployed to undermine the area's political standing, particularly ahead of the All Progressives Congress governorship contest.

In a statement released on Sunday, the group's coordinator, Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, highlighted that the criminal incidents reported in parts of Kwara State are not exclusive to Kwara South. He stressed that banditry and kidnapping, which he attributed to "ungoverned forests and weak border points," are external elements and do not represent the indigenous character of the people in Kwara South. Oyin-Zubair pointed out that many of the recent attacks occurred in remote areas and along vulnerable routes where security was initially lacking.

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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.

The group's statement also serves as a direct rebuttal to suggestions that insecurity has weakened Kwara South's electoral value within the APC. Citing voting records from the 2019 and 2023 elections, Oyin-Zubair asserted that the district remains a formidable support base for the party, even outperforming other senatorial zones like Kwara Central. This local perspective emphasizes that while security challenges exist, they are being actively managed and do not reflect a decline in the region's political influence or the resilience of its people.

Furthermore, the Joint Security Watch Kwara South is actively working to counter the spread of unverified information that could incite fear and tension. They are strengthening surveillance, intelligence-sharing networks, and early warning systems in collaboration with security agencies like the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), alongside local vigilante groups. The group's message is clear: Kwara South is actively securing its territory, protecting its citizens, and restoring normalcy, and they will not permit insecurity to be weaponized for political exclusion.

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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.