Kwara’s Harmony Shattered: A Call for Federal Action

​The recent massacre of over 100 people in the Woro community of Kaiama Local Government Area is not just a local tragedy; it is a national disaster. Kwara State, long celebrated as a bastion of peace and known fondly as the “State of Harmony,” is currently facing an unprecedented wave of violence that threatens its very soul.

​The carnage in Woro represents a declaration of war against the Nigerian state. What we are witnessing—particularly across the Northern and Southern senatorial districts—has clearly surpassed the internal capacity of the state government. The level of arson, displacement, and cold-blooded killing is a grim departure from the Kwara we once knew. We can no longer afford the luxury of “mere press comments” or reactionary mourning; the situation demands a decisive, direct federal intervention.

​A Strategic Necessity

​Kwara is the vital bridge between Northern Nigeria and the Southwest. It shares a sensitive international border with the Republic of Benin and borders multiple states within the federation. If we allow insurgents, fleeing the heat of security operations in other North Central zones, to find a “comfort zone” here, we risk a wildfire that could consume the entire region.

​The Path Forward

​To restore peace and deter these non-state actors, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief, must act immediately. We propose the following urgent measures:

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• ​Military Deployment: The President should direct the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Second Mechanised Infantry Division in Ibadan to deploy troops into the troubled districts of Kwara State immediately.
• ​Permanent Presence: A military base must be established within the affected areas to ensure a sustained, proactive defense rather than a reactive one.
• ​Inter-Agency Synergy: Security agencies must collapse their silos and work in a unified front to blanket the state with a visible, deterrent presence.

​While the Federal Government must lead this charge, the state and local governments cannot be bystanders. Every level of administration must play its part in securing the lives of the people.

​Our hearts go out to the people of Woro and every family mourning a loved one today. We pray for the healing of the wounded and for the fortitude to bear this loss. However, the best way to honor the dead is to ensure that no other Kwaran has to face such horror again. This is a war Nigeria must win—and we must win it now.