The crowd vowed to keep the blockade in place until government authorities take concrete action to secure the release of the victims and improve security in the area.
Residents of Eleyin in Isanlu-Isin, Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State, on Saturday blocked the main road in protest after gunmen, suspected to be terrorists, abducted members of several families in Kwara South.
A video obtained by SaharaReporters showed dozens of protesters staging the demonstration and preventing all vehicles from passing along the road on Saturday.
The crowd vowed to keep the blockade in place until government authorities take concrete action to secure the release of the victims and improve security in the area.
Local residents said the attackers seized seven people in the Eleyin community — three wives, their husband and three children.
They also alleged that, despite a ransom payment of N20million, the abductees have not been released and that some of the people who went to deliver the money are themselves being held by the abductors.
Other protesters said gunmen had taken three children since Wednesday, escalating fear across neighbourhoods in Isin Local Government.
Demonstrators called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and President Bola Tinubu to intervene urgently and deploy security resources to the area.
One of the community leaders said that the gunmen kidnapped seven people in Eleyin community, three wives, their husband, and three children.
"Those who were kidnapped have not been released despite a ransom payment of N20million, and the people who went to deliver the money are also being held hostage.
"The kidnappers abducted seven people in the Eleyin community — three wives, their husband, and three children — and they are yet to be released."
Another protester said the gunmen had kidnapped three of their children since Wednesday.
He said, "We are calling on the government to come to our rescue. We appeal to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and President Tinubu to intervene and assist us.
"If the government fails to come to our aid, we will use all available means to secure ourselves.
"We call on the government to intervene. We urge Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and President Tinubu to provide urgent assistance.
"Should the government fail to act, we will take all necessary measures to protect ourselves."
Community leaders and the protesters urged prompt action from state and federal security agencies to secure the immediate release of the kidnapped victims and to restore calm in the affected communities.
SaharaReporters previously reported that at a time when bandits are laying siege to villages and communities across Kwara South, council chairmen elected under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) launched early campaigns for the 2027 governorship race.
SaharaReporters learnt that the chairmen, seven in number, converged in Ilemona, Oyun Local Government Area, at a political gathering convened by the Deputy Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Ojo Olayiwola Oyebode.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the council bosses were seen wearing campaign caps of the incumbent Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Engr. Yakubu Danladi Salihu, openly endorsing him as their preferred successor to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Speaking on their behalf, the Deputy Speaker declared that the chairmen had collectively adopted the Speaker as their candidate and urged Governor AbdulRazaq to ensure fairness and justice for their choice ahead of 2027.
The endorsement comes against the backdrop of escalating insecurity in Kwara South Senatorial District, which comprises seven LGAs: Offa, Oyun, Isin, Ifelodun, Irepodun, Ekiti, and Oke-Ero.
Since January, Ifelodun, Isin, Irepodun, and Ekiti Local Government Areas have been under relentless siege, with residents enduring repeated attacks and kidnappings, forcing many to flee their ancestral homes.
The region has become the epicenter of Kwara State’s worsening security crisis, with several communities invaded and occupied by suspected terrorists.
Meanwhile, villagers have been forced to pay millions of naira in ransom to secure the release of abducted family members.
Despite this dire situation, local government chairmen — who should be at the forefront of responding to the plight of their people —appear preoccupied with political scheming.
Some residents in Kwara South have condemned the move, describing it as insensitive and premature.
One of the residents, who did not want his name mentioned, opined that the Kwara State governor should call both the council chairmen and legislators from Kwara South to order, because, according to him, premature politicking has the tendency to escalate crises in the state.
“It doesn’t lie in the mouths of the average person in Kwara South. We are facing our worst security crisis since the creation of the state.
“So, ordinarily, if they’re not deliberately sabotaging the efforts of the state and federal governments on the security situation, they shouldn’t have resorted to politics yet. That should be the last thing on their cards. But definitely, our priorities are different.”
Another resident fumed: “While we bury our dead and struggle to raise ransom for our abducted relatives, these politicians are busy sharing campaign caps. It shows where their loyalty lies, and it is not with the people.”
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