The Department of State Services (DSS) in Kwara State has alerted the police to a potential attack on Gbabe community in Baruten Local Government Area, raising fresh security concerns in the state’s northern corridor.
The warning follows a recent violent incident in Woro, Kaiama LGA, where many residents were killed and others displaced. In a letter dated February 5, 2026, and addressed to the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, the DSS reported intelligence indicating the movement and gathering of armed individuals suspected to be linked to Mamuda elements near Kiyoru Settlement in Gwanara District.
According to the notice, the development suggests a possible threat to nearby communities and calls for urgent preventive measures. The DSS also referenced past security challenges associated with armed groups operating around the Kainji Lake National Park area, urging heightened vigilance to prevent further escalation.
Security agencies were advised to act swiftly on the intelligence to maintain order and safeguard residents. The alert has increased anxiety among locals, especially after reports that attackers in the Woro incident moved through forest routes spanning Kaiama and Baruten and extending toward the Benin Republic border—an area long identified as vulnerable.
Authorities have since reinforced security presence in parts of Kaiama, while Baruten residents remain on edge over the reported threat.
In response to the deteriorating situation, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq convened an emergency security council meeting in Ilorin with heads of security agencies to reassess strategies and strengthen coordinated operations. The governor said the session formed part of a broader response to recent attacks and focused on protecting lives and property across affected communities.
The crisis has also drawn regional attention. Governors from neighbouring states visited injured victims receiving treatment in Ilorin, expressing solidarity with Kwara residents and commending the emergency response efforts.
Meanwhile, the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), a Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, has called on governors in the South-West and other Yoruba-speaking states to treat the rising insecurity as a major emergency requiring joint action. The group urged closer collaboration among state governments and security agencies to address the threat and prevent further violence.
The OPC stressed the need for proactive measures, intelligence-driven operations, and stronger protection for vulnerable communities, warning against politicising security challenges.
Officials say ongoing coordination between federal and state authorities is aimed at containing the situation, improving surveillance in border and forest areas, and preventing additional attacks as investigations and security operations continue.
