EXCLUSIVE: Anger Mounts In Kwara South As Governor AbdulRazaq Attends Abuja Birthday Party While Bandits Overrun Communities

Their concerns come amid reports that the governor travelled to Abuja to attend the 60th birthday celebration of media personality Babajide Kolade-Otitoju.

Residents of several communities in Kwara South have voiced anger and frustration over Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s reported absence from areas recently hit by bandit attacks and kidnappings.

Their concerns come amid reports that the governor travelled to Abuja to attend the 60th birthday celebration of media personality Babajide Kolade-Otitoju.

Sources who spoke to SaharaReporters described the governor’s actions as insensitive, accusing him of abandoning communities battling severe insecurity while focusing on political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections.

The latest outrage follows the abduction of eight worshippers in Omuga community and repeated attacks across the Oro-Ago district in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara South, including Oro-Ago town, which is notably the hometown of the state’s deputy governor.

According to multiple residents, the governor has neither visited the affected communities nor publicly reassured residents since the attacks occurred, leaving many feeling abandoned by the state government.

One source from the region told SaharaReporters that the situation has left residents deeply disappointed with the leadership of the state.

“While our home is boiling, AA (Governor AbdulRazaq) is attending a birthday party in Abuja. It’s a shame.”

The source added that many residents believe the governor is no longer paying adequate attention to the deteriorating security situation in Kwara South.

“The visionless governor of Kwara State is in Abuja attending the 60th birthday of media personality Babajide Kolade Otitoju while our people are suffering,” the source said.

“Kwara South residents have accused the governor of abandoning them. We have actually forgotten that power, just like human life, is temporary.”

Another resident who spoke with SaharaReporters questioned how an elected governor could prioritise a social event while communities under his administration remain under siege.

“How can we describe an elected governor who abandoned his people who are critically in a hopeless situation due to terrorist attacks, yet attended the birthday party of a journalist?” the resident said.

“This is a journalist who is not even from Kwara. Where is our humanity?”

Residents say the situation has become even more distressing, noting that more than a week after eight worshippers were abducted in Omuga, neither the Kwara State Government nor the Federal Government has visited the community or issued any strong public reassurance.

“This is the ninth day since our people in Omuga were abducted,” a community member said.

“There has been no single visit or word of assurance from the state government or the federal government.”

The security crisis in the region is not limited to Omuga.

Another source revealed that 11 residents abducted from Babanla community about a month ago remain in captivity, allegedly under the control of the same bandit leader responsible for the latest attacks.

The source accused the Kwara State Government of failing to take concrete steps to secure their release and attempting to keep the situation away from public attention.

“We know of about 11 people who were abducted from this community and they have been in captivity for almost a month now,” the source told SaharaReporters.

“But there has been no serious effort from the government to ensure they regain their freedom. It even appears they don’t want the public to know what is happening.”

Residents say the worsening insecurity has forced many communities across the Oro-Ago District to become nearly deserted as villagers flee their homes for safety.

Entire settlements that were once active farming communities are now reportedly turning into ghost towns due to constant fear of bandit invasions.

“This is virtually what many towns and villages in Oro-Ago District now look like,” another resident lamented.

“People are leaving their homes because they are afraid of the next attack.”

The situation, according to residents, is spreading to nearby communities, including Oke-Oyan, where fear of bandit attacks has begun to drive people away.

“Oke-Oyan, which is close to Oro-Ago, is also becoming a ghost town because of the fear of bandit attacks,” the resident added.

Community leaders and residents are now calling on both the local government authorities and the Kwara State Government to urgently address the escalating security crisis before more communities are abandoned.

Many fear that if decisive action is not taken quickly, the entire district could face severe depopulation as people continue to flee in search of safety.

“We must challenge the local and state governments to explain what they are doing about the situation,” a source said.

“People are living in fear, and entire communities are gradually being abandoned.”