South West States Tighten Borders After Kwara Attack

State governments and security agencies in the South West have stepped up measures to block the movement of armed bandits into the region after a deadly attack in Kwara State claimed six lives at a motor park.

The incident, which occurred in Ifelodun Local Government Area between Thursday and Friday, involved gunmen suspected to be bandits who also killed security officers.

In Oyo State, which shares a northern boundary with Kwara, officials said security architecture across all 33 local government areas has been reinforced. The administration is working closely with the Army, Air Force, police, and the Amotekun Corps. The state’s Amotekun is the largest in the region, with more than 2,500 personnel, 181 vehicles, and 450 motorcycles. Plans have also been approved to acquire two surveillance aircraft to improve monitoring and response in vulnerable communities.

Ekiti State has moved additional forces, including police, army, Amotekun, anti-grazing units, and agro marshals, to its borders with Kwara and Kogi. The government is working with neighbouring states to share intelligence and has tasked local government chairmen with monitoring border communities. Authorities say troops are on standby in case of any incursion, and residents have been urged to carry on with daily activities without fear.

In Ondo State, the Amotekun Corps has rolled out new strategies focused on border patrols, inter-agency collaboration, and grassroots intelligence gathering. Joint patrols with other security agencies are now in place to monitor movement across the state’s boundaries. The corps has received fresh logistical support, enabling quicker response to threats, and over 300 suspects have been arrested in recent operations linked to kidnapping, armed robbery, and burglary. About 1,200 operatives have been deployed across Ondo’s 18 local government areas to maintain a high-security presence.

Osun State police said officers are permanently stationed at border points to prevent infiltration. Residents have been asked to report suspicious individuals or movements, with the command pledging to sustain efforts to protect lives and property.

Security chiefs across the region say they are on high alert and working to ensure the violence in Kwara does not spread southwards. Their strategy is to maintain constant border surveillance, share intelligence, and mobilise rapid-response teams to block armed groups before they enter.