Senate Summons Security Chiefs, Seeks Permanent Military Base in Kwara South to Curb Insecurity
The Senate has summoned key security chiefs to appear before it in plenary, following the rising wave of kidnappings and armed attacks across Kwara South Senatorial District.
Those invited include the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who are expected to brief the Red Chamber on the coordinated federal response to insecurity in the region.
The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Senator Oyelola Yisa Ashiru (APC–Kwara South) and adopted at Wednesday’s plenary.
The Senate also mandated the Committees on Defence, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of affected communities and report back within two weeks.
As part of its resolutions, the Senate urged the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in Kwara South, particularly within Ifelodun Local Government Area, to strengthen security operations and curb the activities of bandits.
Senator Ashiru, in his motion, expressed grave concern over the escalating insecurity in the district, noting that bandit attacks, kidnappings, and killings had reached alarming levels, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.
He revealed that within the last month alone, twelve forest guards and local vigilantes were ambushed and killed by armed bandits in Oke-Ode, including the Baale of Ogba-Ayo community, while several traditional rulers and community leaders had been slain in separate incidents across Babanla, Sagbe, Oro Ago, Ganmu-Alheri, and other communities in Ifelodun, Isin, Ekiti, and Oke Ero LGAs.
According to Senator Ashiru, over 142 persons have been kidnapped and more than 70 killed in the past year across Kwara South, with at least 25 communities deserted as residents flee repeated attacks.
He lamented that farmlands have been abandoned, schools shut down, and local economies crippled, worsening poverty and exposing more youths to crime.
While acknowledging the efforts of security agencies, Senator Ashiru said current interventions remain episodic and inadequate, allowing criminal groups to occupy vast forest belts along the Kwara–Kogi–Ekiti boundary axis.
The Senate, therefore, called for immediate and comprehensive federal intervention, including the deployment of additional troops and special tactical units to clear the forests and restore normalcy.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended Senator Ashiru for the motion, stressing that the security of lives and property remains the uppermost priority of the National Assembly.
He assured that the Senate would closely monitor the situation and ensure full implementation of its resolutions.
