Kwara Bandits' Reign of Terror: Community Head's Wife Abducted, TikTok Ransom Demands Escalate

The Kwara South Development Forum (KSDF) has issued an urgent call for the immediate release of Iya Ayoka, the first wife of the Baale (community head) of Dabu community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. Iya Ayoka was reportedly abducted by bandits on Friday night, August 21, 2026. Concurrently, the forum demanded the swift rescue of Babatunde Fasilat, a 23-year-old woman from Wande community, also in Ifelodun Local Government Area, who was kidnapped by bandits on July 15, 2026. The KSDF has strongly criticized the Kwara State Government, accusing it of providing misleading assurances about the security situation in Kwara South, despite a continuing pattern of attacks, kidnappings, and displacement of residents.

In a statement released on Sunday, Obashola Ayomide Ridwan, Convener of the Kwara South Development Forum, via Secretary Olasehinde O. Oluwatoba, emphasized the group's demand for urgent intervention from both Federal and Kwara State governments to secure the victims' release. Regarding Iya Ayoka, a popular and supportive figure in her community, the KSDF declared, “We are not ready to pay a dime. The government needs to bring her back to us.” The forum highlighted the dire economic impact of insecurity, noting that many markets have been shut down, nearby villages deserted, and residents left begging for food, having exhausted their resources on previous ransom payments. Residents who had previously fled are now gradually returning, only to face re-strategizing bandits launching fresh attacks.

The plight of Babatunde Fasilat is equally distressing. She was abducted on July 15, 2026, when bandits invaded Wande community, shooting her father before taking her away. Fasilat’s father sustained a serious gunshot injury, losing consciousness as the bullet passed through his body, and is currently hospitalized while desperately seeking his daughter's release. The abductors are demanding a N20 million ransom for Fasilat and have alarmingly taken control of her TikTok account, using it to make posts and place calls, causing significant concern among her family and the public. The KSDF has used all available channels to seek government help for Fasilat but reported no response from the Kwara State Government.

The Kwara South Development Forum further alleged that government officials have actively discouraged residents from publicizing the rampant attacks and kidnappings in the area, even as insecurity persists. The forum stated that it had repeatedly contacted the Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area concerning the deteriorating security situation, but despite assurances, little or no concrete action has been taken to protect residents. This latest kidnapping of Iya Ayoka has intensified fears among residents and further increased concerns over the worsening security situation across parts of Ifelodun Local Government Area and Kwara State at large.

The KSDF concluded by reiterating that residents can no longer bear the burden of paying ransoms and enduring the consequences of insecurity without decisive intervention from government and security agencies. They made a fervent appeal to Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Federal Government, and all relevant security agencies to urgently intensify efforts to rescue Iya Ayoka, Babatunde Fasilat, and other victims currently held captive by their abductors.