(DDM) – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kwara State has written an open letter to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, condemning what it described as his administration’s “failure and indifference” following the recent deadly attack in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area.
The gruesome incident, which left about 15 villagers dead and several others kidnapped, has plunged the community into mourning and reignited concerns about the state government’s capacity to secure lives and property.
In the strongly worded letter, signed by Ibraheemalfa Abdulrasheed Gbagba, the State Publicity Secretary of ADC, the opposition party expressed deep condolences to the victims’ families while also squarely holding the governor responsible for what it called a collapse of security planning and proactive response.
“We are compelled to express our deepest condolences to the people of Oke-Ode, Ifelodun LGA, following this recent attack. But beyond condolence, we must tell the truth: your administration has failed to prevent tragedies of this magnitude, despite clear warnings,” the letter declared.
DDM gathered that the ADC had written to the government on Thursday, September 25, 2025, urging urgent steps to address escalating insecurity across rural communities in Kwara.
Barely 48 hours later, another tragedy unfolded in Oke-Ode, underscoring what the party described as “government’s indifference.”
“This is not just a sad coincidence. It is proof of negligence,” the ADC statement noted. “You were formally alerted, yet you failed to act, and now families are burying their loved ones.”
The letter accused the governor of a “nonchalant attitude towards security,” stressing that governance without protection of citizens amounts to betrayal.
“The people of Kwara demand better. Strategic planning, immediate deployment of resources, and concrete measures are needed. Anything less is unacceptable,” Gbagba wrote.
The ADC further reminded the governor that no government earns legitimacy if citizens live in fear of violent attacks. “What is the essence of democracy if the lives of ordinary people mean nothing?” it asked.
Observers note that insecurity has worsened in several parts of Kwara in recent years. Farmers in rural communities have repeatedly complained of attacks by suspected bandits, kidnappers, and armed herders, with many abandoning farmlands out of fear.
Civil society groups have documented cases of ransom kidnappings along highways linking Kwara with Kogi, Niger, and Ekiti states.
The Oke-Ode massacre is being described by residents as one of the deadliest in the state’s history.
Survivors say armed men stormed the area at night, shooting indiscriminately and abducting villagers. “We have never seen such bloodshed in Oke-Ode before.
They killed without mercy and took our brothers and sisters into the bush,” one local elder told DDM.
Community leaders are now calling for increased presence of joint security task forces in rural areas. “If the state government cannot secure us, then what is the purpose of leadership?” another resident asked.
The ADC echoed similar sentiments in its open letter, insisting that failure to respond decisively to this crisis would leave Kwara vulnerable to further attacks.
“This is unprecedented in our history. If urgent steps are not taken, Kwara risks sliding into lawlessness,” the party warned.
While the Kwara State Government has yet to officially respond to the ADC’s accusations, pressure is mounting on the governor to personally visit Oke-Ode, meet grieving families, and unveil a credible security plan.
For now, the people of Oke-Ode are left to grapple with trauma, loss, and uncertainty, even as they pray for the safe return of kidnapped victims.
The ADC concluded its letter with a direct challenge to the governor: “Your Excellency, leadership is not about silence in the face of tragedy.
It is about responsibility. Kwara deserves a government that will act, not one that watches.”
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