Muslim group condemns attacks in Kwara, urges proactive security measures

2026-02-12 - 09:19

The Companion, an association of Muslim men in business and the professions, has condemned the recent attacks on Muslim communities in Woro, Kwara State, describing the incident as an unprecedented tragedy and warning that continued violence could further erode public confidence in the state’s ability to protect its citizens. In a statement signed by its National Amir, Imam Nojeem Jimoh, the group said it was deeply saddened by what it described as escalating assaults on Muslim-dominated communities in the state. The association said it does not view the attacks as isolated incidents, but rather as part of what it called a suspected coordinated attempt to undermine Muslim populations in affected areas. “We actually fear a sinister strategy is at play probably calculated to weaken the centre by rendering peripheral communities utterly vulnerable through cumulative violence,” the statement said. The group alleged that communities such as Woro and Oke Ode had been repeatedly targeted, stressing that the pattern of attacks should be of serious concern to the Kwara State Government. The Companion said the continued insecurity was rapidly undermining the confidence of Muslim residents in the capacity of the state to guarantee their safety. “The Kwara State Government must recognise that the current trajectory is rapidly eroding the confidence of Muslim citizens in the state’s ability to protect them,” the association stated. It warned that the growing loss of trust could have damaging consequences if left unresolved. “This erosion of trust carries serious degenerative implications that the government may ultimately find embarrassing if left unaddressed,” the statement added. The group called on the state government to take immediate and practical steps to improve security in the affected communities, rather than resorting to what it described as routine and unproductive responses. It urged authorities to avoid what it termed the “time-wasting practice of setting up reactionary committees,” and instead deploy existing research and data on the socio-economic conditions of Woro and neighbouring communities to guide security and development interventions. The association also called for a shift from what it described as a reactive security posture to a proactive security system that is capable of identifying and neutralising threats before attacks occur. In addition, The Companion urged political leaders in the state to demonstrate what it called genuine political accountability by offering concrete and practical support to Woro and other communities affected by violence. According to the statement, the political class, which it said often relies on local information during election campaigns, must now show a deeper understanding of the communities by contributing meaningfully to their recovery and security. The Companion said it stood in solidarity with victims of the attacks and their families, while calling on the government to treat the protection of lives and property as a constitutional responsibility. It stressed that the safety of residents must be pursued with urgency and sincerity, in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.