A presidential hopeful, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has warned that Northern Nigeria risks sliding into war if urgent and coordinated national action was not taken to stem the growing wave of terrorism and banditry.
Olawepo-Hashim, in a statement, extended condolences to the families of victims of the recent bandit attack in Oke Ode in Ifelodun local government Area of Kwara State where 15 people, including vigilantes and the village head were killed.
He also demanded immediate security action to rescue abducted persons.
The politician revealed that two months ago, he had held a 30-minute security-focused conversation with Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, in his capacity as both governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
According to him, during the meeting, he presented a security trend model for Kwara and Northern Nigeria, but despite assurances that the situation was under control, recent events had shown that the challenges were far beyond the governor’s capacity.
“What is obvious is that despite his best efforts, the issues are well beyond him,” he said.
Olawepo-Hashim painted a grim outlook, cautioning that terrorist forces were actively working to acquire the capacity to establish government in some Northern states, depending on political developments in 2027.
“God forbid, but there are clear indications that terrorist forces are actively working to establish government in some Northern states,” he warned, identifying the North Central region as the likely theatre of the crisis.
He stressed that the Oke Ode massacre was a tragic reminder of the escalating threat, reminiscent of past attacks in Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger and Baruteen and Pategi local government areas of Kwara States.
He also accused Nigeria’s ruling elite of complacency and disconnection from the plight of ordinary citizens.
“It is tragic that those in power are kidding with this rapidly emerging danger. Most of our ruling elites remain aloof or already have their personal plans, leaving poor and helpless communities in danger,” he lamented.
The presidential hopeful called for urgent, professional and coordinated security operations to avert a total state failure, warning that Nigeria cannot afford to allow terrorists and criminal groups to consolidate control over ungoverned or poorly governed spaces.
