The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has strongly criticised Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for what it described as a failure to address the worsening insecurity in the state, following a deadly bandit attack in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area, on Sunday.
The attack, which left several vigilante members and residents dead, including the Baale of Ogbayo, has sparked outrage and mourning across the state. In a statement issued on Monday by its Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the PDP condemned the massacre as “a despicable and senseless act,” blaming the tragedy on what it called “monumental leadership failure” under the current administration.
“The gruesome videos of the casualties circulating online make it look like Kwara is now at war. Under AbdulRahman’s watch, terror is reigning, kidnappers are taking over rural villages, and nowhere is safe again,” the statement read.
The PDP also criticised the governor for not visiting the affected community to commiserate with victims’ families or offer any visible support, stating that a responsible leader would have shown empathy and taken swift action.
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In addition, the opposition party accused Governor AbdulRazaq of neglecting local vigilantes and security operatives who, it said, are risking their lives in the bush to protect communities. Instead, the PDP alleged that funds were being diverted to events involving “footballers and entertainers outside the state.”
The attack has intensified fears in Kwara North, where repeated bandit incursions have forced residents to flee farms, abandon schools, and suspend businesses. In response, the Nupe Descendants Union (NDU) — a coalition of Nupe groups — joined calls for urgent action.
At a press briefing in Ilorin, NDU President, Alhaji Shuaibu Mohammed, urged the state government to boost security deployment, enhance intelligence gathering, and ensure the governor personally visits besieged communities.
“Our people live a life of uncertainty; they cannot sleep with their eyes closed. Lives and properties are wasted, farmlands are no longer accessible, and commercial activities have been paralysed,” he said.
The group also blamed persistent insecurity on the poor road conditions across Kwara North, especially the Patigi–Gbugbu–Lafiagi–Tsaragi–Bacita corridor, describing it as a dangerous route exploited by armed bandits.
The Oke-Ode incident is the latest in a string of violent events across the region, including the murder of a pharmacist in Patigi, the shutdown of the International Gbugbu Market, and the recent killing of a young driver in Esanti village.
As insecurity deepens, calls are mounting for the Kwara State Government to act decisively to restore safety and public confidence across affected areas.
