The Senate has called on the federal government to establish a permanent military base in Kwara south to address the prevailing rising insecurity in the region.
The red chamber made this call during plenary on Wednesday, following a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by the senator representing Kwara south, Ashiru Oyelola.
The lawmaker said bandit attacks, kidnappings, and killings have reached alarming levels in Ifelodun local government area, forcing many residents to flee their homes.
According to him, at least 12 forest guards and local vigilantes were recently killed in an ambush by armed bandits in Oke-Ode.
He also revealed that several traditional and community leaders were slain in Babanla, Sagbe, Oro Ago, Ganmu-Alheri and other areas across Ifelodun, Isin, Ekiti, and Oke Ero LGAs.
The lawmaker alleged that at least 142 persons have been kidnapped and more than 70 killed in the last year across Kwara south, while 25 communities have been deserted due to recurring attacks.
He added that the assaults, allegedly carried out by foreign armed elements working with local informants, have disrupted farming, schooling, and trade activities, plunging the region into deeper poverty.
“The responses by the federal government and security agencies remain episodic, inadequate, and reactive, leaving vast ungoverned spaces under the control of criminal gangs.
He also called on the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to provide humanitarian relief to displaced persons and compensate families of forest guards and vigilantes killed in the line of duty.
