Date: 2013-01-11

Kwara State is generally regarded as a peaceful state, which justifies its name, the State of harmony. But little did those outside the state of harmony as kwara is fondly called know that the state is not entirely peaceful as it seems. Though, the peaceful atmosphere and look in kwara state didn't come without a price of dedication and constant overcoming of threat, but despite that, there are still threats and obstacles that are always threatening the peaceful atmosphere in the state.

Some weeks ago, violence broke out between the Adabata/Baboko boys Vs the Opc,a situation which set the state on flame causing fear and panic within the residence and preventing the citizens from going about their normal work without fear especially between Magajin gari.Baboko and Oko erin ward.

This is not the first time such incidence would be happening, it is like a normal routine to the knowledge of those living in the Ilorin metropolis. Kwara state or would I say the Ilorin metropolis consist of several groups like the Baboko boys,Idi Ape group,Gambari area boys,oloje warriors, etc which has the capacity of causing violence anytime they get mad. Though, media organizations in the state mostly don't report such situations and the damages, or they report without any or much details on the real situation on ground.

The recent peace disturbance which occurred in the state was in some weeks ago, when a group of hoodlum or cultists around Adabata and baboko area trashed it out with the opc group. A situation which ensured that all businesses in that area was shut down. The crisis didn't only remain at Baboko/Adabata part of the state capital, it was also extended to other places like Eruda,Surulere,Oja etc,where the hoodlum were destroying valuable goods in shops and upon sight, cars and many more. They were moving from area to area inform of a protest and fighting, vandalising properties and injuring themselves and other victims.

The crisis went on for close to a weak before the security were able to calm the situation and restore peace.

This was not the first time such situation would be happening, from time, especially in the late 90's and early 2000,the Ilorin metropolis is known for weekly student violence, ranging from the violence of higher institutions, to that between secondary schools.

On a weekly basis during that period, there were always a report of one secondary school fighting the other, it may be between the Ilorin Grammar School and Baboko Secondary school this week, and Adeta Secondary school and JSS the following week. This would ensure that the roads connecting the two schools would be filled with commotion.

The Students mostly vandalise vehicles, breaking screen glasses and so on. The students occupy the road, stopping taxi's and searching for the students of the other schools. Any student from the other school found in any of the cars would be brought down and seriously dealt with, inflicting serious injuries and in some cases, though very few, cause death. This was a regular situation in the schools in the Ilorin metropolis in the late 90's and early 2000. Notably among the students leading such crisis are,Eye,Biroro,Stone,hakeem,wasiu,Kaso etc. their names are usually nick names as many do not know their real names. We also have the likes of Itu,Tope, Bigi,Segun and many more.

The violence being caused by the higher institutional students on the other hand is strictly cult base, where virtually close to half of the students of the higher institutions are made to be cultist due to aggression by other cultists. Gentle, cool, intelligent and innocent looking students whom one may never think of being a cultist were later revealed to be members.

Constant clashes on campuses and on the streets. Shooting all over, killing each other on the street and so on. All of these are reports of different incident of street shooting and fighting on a weekly basis in the early 2000. Notable among the institutions involved in this trend during that period include, the federal polytechnic, Offa , University of Ilorin,Kwara Polytechnic,Ilorin,Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin and kwara State College of Education Oro. Also, notably among the leaders and champion of these crisis in higher institutions are the Dmx, a cultist murdered at the frontage of the university of Ilorin sometime in 2001,Angel,a cult leader in kwara polytechnic,Tunji,Sangaruwa,a student godfather in Federal polytechnic,Offa,submarine,George unome,old school,dele mafia,tj etc.

A popular situation which occurred during that period, precisely in

2003 was a report of a student of the kwara State college of Education, Ilorin, named Akeem Busari,also known as eleja,who was attacked by cultists and was murdered in broad day light. His flesh was reportedly cut into pisses by the cult group that attacked him.

when further inquiry was launched into the incident, it was realised that the young man was not even a cultist, though a friend to one cultist who was contesting to date a young lady of the same institution with one member of the other cult group. These and many more are the situation in the state, until late 2003 when the then Kwara State governor,Dr. Bukola Saraki decided to act decisively on the increasing weekly violence in the state and the constant report student murder and vandalisation of properties. Governor Bukola Saraki deployed men of Man O war to all secondary schools in the state to fish out the bad students and act accordingly ,these Security personnel remain in the schools for around 3 years before the situation was finally put to rest in secondary schools. He also empowered a young police man (named OGIDAN) with his team believed also to be a former cultist; he was given the duty to sanitise the higher institution of cultism activities. OGIDAN worked tireless to ensure the end of cultism in kwara state higher institutions, but he himself was cut down by the same cultist whom he has been trying to end. Though, he was able to drastically reduce the activities of the cultists before he was finally murdered around Unity Road in Ilorin sometime around 2005.

After the demise of OGIDAN, cult activities in the state went low, but recently, their activities seems getting back on board, as we have been hearing news of student murder on regular basis in recent time.

Also, Regular clashes usually occur between the Idi Ape group/Gambari/ and Baboko boys and other groups who usually claim lives and injuring several people. Notably among these hoodlums are Akaje,Bayo Ajia,Kale Bayero,Babalola, etc Another major violent incident in the state over the years was the crises between Offa Community and Erin-Ile community, two neiboring communities fighting over land and value. Their crisis can be linked to that of Ife and Modakeke crises in Osun state where lives and properties were seriously destroyed. This crisis also claimed several lives and got many injured. It keeps springing up at any slightest provocation or chance until the recent reconciliation where the present Kwara state governor, Dr. Abdulfatai Ahmed finally ensured that the crisis was buried. Both Traditional rulers also assured of their total commitment to peace in the interest of the state, their communities and their people.

Share Community, the home town of the kwara State Governor,Dr.

Abdulfatai Ahmed has also been in constant crises with the Tsaragi Community over land dispute. A serious crisis which has claimed the lives of many and got several others injured over the years. Till date, their dispute has not been completely settled.

The Kwara state government reportedly intervened into the crises and since no resolution have been achieved so far, the government ban both communities from claiming ownership of the land and also working on it. Though, there are still reports of minor clashes despite the government ban.

Apart from these large scale crisis mentioned above, there are still minor causes of insecurity in the state, such as ritualistic kidnapping, a trend which is a regular occurrence in the state, especially in the state capital. People are found nakedly dumped with their private part cut off. Children are reportedly stolen for rituals, ritualists including pastors and clerics are usually arrested for murder and being in possession of dead human being and their parts.

Several other situations like the popular night attack with cutlass and knife on the road, cutting people with knife and cleaning their blood with white ankachief for ritual purpose, a situation which claimed the lives of several people in the State early in 2012.

We also have the situation of child kidnapping and many more.

In a nutshell, every state has it beauty, but the beauty of kwara is the peace, harmony and stability in the state, though, the peace cannot be said to be 100%, but generally, kwara is regarded as one of the most peaceful state in Nigeria.

All threat mentioned above are obstacles to the peaceful atmosphere in kwara state and must be dealt with to avoid resurgence of the state of anarchy Despite the above, the kwara state government have on many occasions risen up to several security challenges and overcame them when needed mostly. It is my believe that every resident of the state would always strive to offer ideas to the government on how to ensure peace and provide information to the security to end any threat.