ILORIN — A thick sense of dread is settling over Kwara State as the “State of Harmony” faces a chilling new reality in the nation’s security crisis. In an unprecedented show of audacity, terrorist groups and bandits have reportedly begun “pre-informing” rural communities of their intent to attack, leaving residents in a state of agonizing suspense.
The metaphor currently echoing through the streets of Ilorin and the farmlands of Kaiama is one of an impending storm: “The clouds are gathering again, and it might rain at any moment.”
The “Pre-Attack” Psychological Warfare
Reports from the Kwara North and Kwara South senatorial districts suggest that armed groups are no longer relying on the element of surprise. Instead, they are using released kidnap victims or handwritten letters to serve “notices of invasion” to specific villages.
In communities bordering Niger and Kogi states, this psychological warfare has brought life to a standstill. Farmers, fearful that the “rain” of violence could fall while they are in the fields, have begun abandoning their crops.
“They sent a message through a man they released last week,” a community leader in Edu Local Government told our correspondent. “They told us to prepare because they are coming, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop them. They are so bold now that they don’t even hide their faces when they deliver these threats.”
Nigerians Blast NSA Nuhu Ribadu over “Intelligence Failure”
The brazen nature of these threats has sparked a wave of anger across the country, with many Nigerians directing their frustrations at the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
Critics argue that if terrorists feel comfortable enough to “book appointments” for massacres, it signals a catastrophic collapse of the nation’s intelligence and deterrence capabilities.
- “Office of No Action”: Social media has been awash with criticisms labeling the Office of the NSA as “reactionary rather than proactive.” Activists argue that Ribadu appears more occupied with political battles in Abuja—such as the ongoing feud with Nasir El-Rufai—than with the mounting “red alerts” in the Middle Belt.
- Intelligence Leakages:Â Some security analysts have questioned how these groups move with such confidence, suggesting that the “intelligence gathering” touted by the NSA’s office is either not reaching the frontlines or is being ignored.
- The “Harmony” Myth:Â “Kwara was our last safety net,” lamented Ibrahim Kolawole, a security commentator. “If the NSA cannot protect a state that has been relatively peaceful, then the ‘Renewed Hope’ security agenda is officially on life support.”
A State Under Pressure
The “dark clouds” are most ominous in Kaiama, Baruten, and Oke-Ero, where the porous forest borders provide easy exit and entry for the bandits. While Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has scrambled to hold emergency meetings with traditional rulers and security chiefs, the sense of vulnerability on the ground remains high.
In response to the “pre-notices,” some villages have begun a frantic “self-help” mobilization, pooling funds to arm local hunters and vigilantes. However, there is a consensus among residents that a ragtag group of hunters cannot stop the “rain” if the federal security apparatus fails to act on the warnings.
As the state holds its breath, the question in every Kwara household remains: Will the government act before the clouds break, or will they once again arrive only to count the bodies after the storm has passed?
