Banditry: Concerns as Kwara Communities Ban Truck Drivers, Level Heavy Allegation

• Residents of Ifelodun LGA in Kwara State have barred trucks and lorries from entering their villages, accusing some drivers of aiding bandits terrorising Kwara South
• The protesters, led by angry youths in Igbaja, alleged that certain drivers help supply weapons and even deposit ransom for kidnappers
• The decision, backed by the local government chairman, follows mass displacement in several communities as villagers flee worsening insecurity

Residents of several communities in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have banned the entry of trucks and lorries into their villages, accusing some drivers of collaborating with bandits who have been terrorising Kwara South.

The development followed a massive protest held on Wednesday morning, which was live-streamed on Facebook by a user identified as Okit Olamide and monitored by Legit.ng.

Drivers allegedly complicit in rising insecurity

In the footage, angry youths and residents were seen blocking a major road in Igbaja, vowing not to allow trucks, especially those allegedly linked to Dangote, into their towns anymore.

Read also

Lagos: Tears, commotion as prominent skit maker killed

One of the protesters alleged that some truck drivers were directly involved in the logistics of banditry in the state.

According to him, the drivers allegedly deliver weapons to criminal groups and even help deposit ransom payments collected from families of kidnapped victims into the accounts of the bandits.

“Bandits are terrorising us. They are giving us sleepless nights. No one can stay at home anymore in these communities. For the past three days, Babanla and neighbouring villages have been deserted. Yet trucks still pass through undisturbed, especially in Oreke where nobody lives anymore,” one of the protesters lamented.

The protesters alleged that, unlike local farmers who are the primary targets of kidnappings, truck drivers move freely without being attacked by the criminals. They accused some of the drivers of collaborating with the bandits to sustain their operations.

The youth leader continued:

“We have discovered that some of these truck drivers are the ones helping kidnappers to collect ransom and deposit into their accounts. They are also supplying ammunition. That is why we resolved in Igbaja today that no truck will be allowed to enter our community again.”

Read also

"How they killed 23 worshipers": Survivors speak out after deadly bandits attack in Katsina mosque

Youths backed by local authorities

The protest has received the backing of the Ifelodun Local Government Chairman, Honourable Femi Yusuf, who reportedly instructed the youths to remain firm in their stance.

The protester continued: “Today, in Igbaja,,’ we resolved to block the road and announced that no Dangote truck will be allowed into our community henceforth. This decision has also received the backing of the Ifelodun Local Government Chairman, Honourable Femi Yusuf.

“All relevant stakeholders have instructed us to be strong about this position. We are not fighting the truck drivers, we only ask them to turn back. We are appealing to the powerful and uncompromising voices in this country to come to our aid. Kwara South is bleeding. Our people are being killed, our people are being kidnapped. Please help us.”

Residents flee homes amid worsening insecurity

Residents of communities such as Babanla, Sabe, Ologomo, Alabe, and Oreke in Kwara have allegedly abandoned their homes in recent days due to frequent attacks.

Read also

Bandits invade mosque, open fire at worshippers while praying, many dead

Many villagers now spend their nights in bushes or relocate entirely to safer towns.

The protesting residents appealed to the state and federal governments, as well as security agencies, to urgently intervene in the worsening insecurity in Kwara South.

“We are not fighting the drivers, we only ask them to turn back. Kwara South is bleeding. Our people are being killed and kidnapped daily. We can no longer sleep in peace,” one of the residents pleaded.

Bandits abduct seven residents

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that in a fresh attack in the northern part of Kwara State, bandits abducted several residents of the state despite the recent arrest of a dreaded terrorist leader, Mahmud Mohammed Usman.

Suspected bandits killed a prominent community member in Lade, Patigi LGA, and abducted others in another major community in the state.

Residents are fleeing their homes due to repeated bandit attacks, while community leaders express fear and anger over the continued insecurity.

Source: Legit.ng