by Odekunle Yusuf
A public affairs analyst, Lawal Olanrewaju, has warned of the growing threat of terrorism in Kwara State, stressing that the attacks endanger not only human lives but also food security.
Speaking on News Panorama Morning Mix on Royal FM, Olanrewaju, who is also a governance commentator, criticized the authorities for failing to take adequate measures to address the escalating security situation.
“We’ve had stories and reports of armed non-state actors christened bandits by the government. I prefer to call them terrorists because that’s who they are—overrunning communities. For some of us who can see the bigger picture, there seems to be a sinister plot behind these attacks, and it looks like the government is sleeping on it,” he said.
Olanrewaju described policing as the closest institution to the people, responsible for maintaining civil law and order. He argued that Nigeria’s policing structure is inadequate and called for a multi-tier system that devolves more power to communities.
According to him, community-based policing would help curb insecurity before it escalates. He cautioned that continued government inaction could have far-reaching consequences, warning that the crisis could become, in his words, “a monster that is difficult to contain.”
“This is a looming crisis, and the government seems oblivious. They are playing ostrich with it. But when the crisis explodes, every one of us will be affected,” he added.
His warning comes as communities in Kwara State continue to grapple with violent attacks by armed groups, whom the government refers to as bandits but whom Olanrewaju insists should be called terrorists.
