DON’T TURN KWARA TO ANOTHER SAMBISA, DOUBLE EFFORTS TO END THE SPATE OF KILLING, KIDNAPPING, AND TERRORISM: CDHR CHARGES THE STATE GOVERNMENT, SECURITY APPARATUS

The residents and indigenes of kwara communities are living in fear and apprehension due to the recent rise in the spate of killing and kidnapping in different parts of Kwara communities. Some few weeks back, it was reported virally that a new bandit group arrived in the state named Mahmouda. To prove the authenticity of the viral news, the group strikes around Baruteen local government, and scores of innocent Nigerians were killed.

Cdhr gathered that
Seven people were killed in attacks on the Kwara community when gunmen suspected to be members of the new terrorist group, Mahmouda, attacked communities in Baruten and Kaiama local government areas. The assailants who reportedly were on military camouflage, riding motorcycles, stormed the market square at 9:30 pm on Monday and opened fire on the residents before they zoomed off.

Among whose lives were lost include four Fulanis, a vigilante, and a 19-year-old youth. According to another source, a similar attack occurred the same day in neighbouring Kaiama, where a vigilante was killed.

In another development, gunmen suspected to be kidnappers abducted seven travellers along the Obbo-Aiyegunle road in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. Cdhr gathered that the incident occurred over the weekend. The affected victims were travellers and passengers in a Sienna bus coming from FCT to Offa town, kwara state.The gunmen reportedly blocked the road and stopped the vehicle, belonging to an Offa-based transport company with registration number KW FFA 50 XD, at gunpoint. Seven people were kidnapped, leaving the children and their belongings behind.

Recently, the kwara branch of NBA announced the abduction of one of their members by unknown assistants, Barrister Elizabeth Arinde, Head of the Legal Department at Oke Ero Local Government in Kwara State. According to reports, she was abducted alongside the DPM of the Local Government on Friday, April 25, 2025, while travelling from Oke Ero LGA to Ilorin. In the announcement, the kwara NBA chairman SMH Kosemani Esq. appeals to the members of the public to share the information and pray for her safe return.

In line with the above and series of insecurity reports about kwara communities, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights uses this medium to call the attention of the kwara state government, kwara state police command and other security apparatus in the state to double their efforts to end the insecurity challenges around kwara communities. The government and all the stakeholders should synergise by putting appropriate measures to remove kwara from the news of viral killing, kidnapping, and all forms terrorism. We shouldn’t allow them to turn our dear state to another Sambisa forest.

Kwara State is known for peace and harmony and one of the most peaceful states in the northcentral Nigeria. The government should intensify efforts to maintain the peace and harmony kwarans have been enjoying over the years.

Cdhr also urges the state government to empower the local security operatives with necessary support and intelligence to assist the conventional security apparatus. They understand their local terrain better than the outsiders. A stitch in time saves nine.

E-Signed:
Comrade Idris Afees Olayinka,
National Publicity Secretary CDHR Nigeria.

No Light, No Food, No Safety: The Death of the Nigerian Dream Under Tinubu & APC Rule

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

A Nation in Crisis: The Plight of Ordinary Nigerians.

Nigeria, once hailed as the “Giant of Africa,” now teeters on the brink of collapse. Under the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the nation’s foundational structures; education, healthcare, infrastructure and security are deteriorating, leaving millions in despair.​

1. Education and Healthcare: Neglected Pillars

The educational system is in disarray, persistent crises have severely damaged school infrastructure, increased teacher shortages, and displaced 2 million children in the BAY states (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe). Healthcare services are equally dire; in 2025, 31% of health facilities are out of operation and ongoing conflict further strains resources. These deficiencies have led to a brain-drain with professionals seeking better opportunities abroad, further exacerbating the situation.​

2. Infrastructure Decay: Roads and Electricity

The country’s infrastructure is crumbling. Many roads are impassable, hindering transportation and commerce. Electricity supply is erratic at best; despite promises of 24-hour power supply, many regions experience prolonged outages. The shift to solar panels in Aso Rock, following allegations of embezzlement in the power sector, underscores the government’s failure to provide reliable electricity to its citizens.​

3. Security: A Nation Under Siege

Insecurity pervades Nigeria. From the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast to banditry in the northwest and separatist agitations in the southeast, citizens live in constant fear. Farmers are unable to cultivate their lands due to threats from armed groups, leading to food shortages and increased prices. The government’s response has been inadequate with security forces often overwhelmed or accused of complicity.​

4. Internally Displaced Persons: A Growing Humanitarian Crisis
The ongoing conflicts have displaced millions, forcing them into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps with limited access to basic necessities. These camps are overcrowded and under-resourced, leading to deplorable living conditions. In Borno State alone, there are over 874,000 IDPs across 17 Local Government Areas . The government’s efforts to resettle displaced persons have been met with skepticism, as many areas remain unsafe.​

5. Political Manipulation: Power Over People

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been accused of prioritizing political dominance over national welfare. Reports suggest that coercion and inducements are used to compel opposition figures to defect to the APC, undermining democratic principles. This focus on political consolidation detracts from addressing the pressing issues facing the nation. For instance, the APC National Secretary dismissed claims that the ruling party is steering Nigeria towards a one-party system.​

Voices of Conscience: Echoes from the Nation

Prominent Nigerians have voiced their concerns over the nation’s trajectory:

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Author: “We cannot afford to be indifferent to the suffering of our fellow citizens.”​

Femi Falana, Human Rights Lawyer: “The government’s primary responsibility is the security and welfare of the people. Anything less is a betrayal.”​

A Call to Action: Reclaiming Nigeria’s Future
The challenges are immense, but not insurmountable. To chart a new course:

Civic Engagement: Citizens must hold leaders accountable through active participation in governance, demanding transparency and justice.​

Institutional Reform: Strengthening institutions to function independently and effectively is crucial for sustainable development.​

Security Overhaul: A comprehensive strategy to address insecurity, including community policing and intelligence-driven operations is essential.​

Economic Diversification: Reducing dependence on oil by investing in agriculture, technology and manufacturing can create jobs and stabilize the economy.​

Education and Healthcare Investment: Allocating resources to revitalize these sectors will empower citizens and foster national growth.​

The Path Forward
Nigeria’s current state is a reflection of systemic failures and misplaced priorities. However, with collective resolve and decisive action the nation can overcome these challenges. It is imperative for both leaders and citizens to commit to building a Nigeria that upholds the dignity, security and prosperity of all its people.​

Note: This write-up is based on current events and reports up to April 2025.

Sylvester is a political analyst, he writes from South Africa

Make Adequate Provisions For The Aged, Ajadi Admonishes Govts

A South West Chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has called on the federal and other level of governments to make adequate provisions for old people as it is obtained in developed countries.
Oguntoyinbo said it is high time such provision was enshrined in the constitution because everybody prays to get old and that when one is old, he can no longer takes care of him or herself.
He made this admonition, while speaking on the sideline of the final funeral ceremony of the late Mrs Oyinade Teluwo in Lagos on Friday.
Late Oyinade Teluwo is the mother of the NNPP Ogun Central Senatorial Candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr Kehinde Teluwo.

According to Ajadi, “We need to give little words of advice to our government especially Mr President. He has travelled to many advanced countries. We have also by the Grace of God being to many countries where we see how they are making adequate provisions for their elderly people.

“We need to copy that, government needs to provide for the aged people. In a place like the United States of America and the United Kingdom, governments take care of the needs of the elderly.
“Even if you are young, you are working, and suddenly you lose your jobs, either through termination of appointments or inability of your working place to continue operations, there is a system that will signal to the government that this person is not working again.
“The government gives priority and take care of such person that don’t have job any longer until he secures another employment.

“For the retirees, they know that when they retired, there is a provision for them to live on.

“But in Nigeria, even those who worked as civil servants, their entitlements are delayed and pensions are not paying as at when due except few states.
“This must change. We all pray to live old and therefore our government must do something for the aged.”
Speaking on the life of the late Mrs Teluwo, Ajadi said, “Mama lived a good life. She was kind and generous. She had left a good legacy for others to copy. She was a good Christian who served the Lord till her last minute on earth”.
Also speaking, the son of the deceased and NNPP Senatorial Candidate
for Ogun Central in the last general election, Mr Kehinde Teluwo urged the government to improve the living and health conditions of Nigerians so that they can live long.
According to him, “My mother died at the age of 74. To we the children and the family, we wished she had stayed more because of her good deeds. But how many people live up to Seventy in Nigeria?
“The life expectancy is below 60. This is due to the toxic environment, the food we eat and inadequate of affordable health facilities. Government should do something in this regard.”
Speaking on her mother, the NNPP Chieftain said, “She was everything to me. She taught me to be close to God and that through Him, I can achieve anything I desire. She was a super woman, a role model in all the communities she served.”

Also speaking about Mrs Oyinade Teluwo, the daughter -In -law, Mrs Hope Teluwo said that she was a detribalised person.
“I am an Ibo woman and when his son introduced me to her as the person he wanted to marry, she received me with open arms. She taught us love and I want the new generation to imbibe love in their lives and marriage,” she said.
Mrs Oyinade Teluwo’s burial was well attended by leaders and members of the NNPP in Ogun State including the state Chairman, Barrister John Aina