KEY POINTS

• DSS warns of a planned increase in farmer kidnappings in parts of Kwara State.
• Bandits are targeting rural communities in Edu LGA as retaliation for military operations.
• Security agencies are urged to strengthen presence in vulnerable areas to prevent attacks.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued a fresh warning over a suspected plot by armed bandits to escalate the kidnapping of farmers in parts of Kwara State.

The alert was directed to the state police command in Ilorin, urging urgent action to prevent attacks on vulnerable farming communities.

According to intelligence reports, farming settlements located on the outskirts of Lema, Ndeji, and Gbugbu in Edu Local Government Area have been marked as potential targets.

The DSS revealed that the planned attacks are allegedly being orchestrated by bandit leaders identified as Auta-Ilorin and Siddi Dan-Kano. The goal, according to the agency, is to terrorise farmers and force them to abandon their farmlands.

Retaliation Against Military Crackdown

The security agency explained that the planned kidnappings are believed to be a retaliatory move against ongoing military operations in the region, which have disrupted bandit activities and other criminal networks.

By targeting farmers, the bandits aim to undermine local livelihoods and destabilise affected communities.

In response to the looming threat, the DSS has advised that security operations be extended to rural and high-risk areas to prevent attacks and protect residents.

The agency stressed the importance of proactive measures to safeguard lives and maintain agricultural activities, which are critical to the local economy.

Kwara State has witnessed a surge in insecurity in 2026, with increasing incidents of violence, including clashes and targeted attacks.

The northern parts of the state, particularly Kaiama and Baruten, have emerged as hotspots of banditry and communal unrest, while Ilorin, the state capital, has remained relatively calm.