![Hon. Festus Keyamo SAN arrives MMIA past 11:50 p.m. Feb 23 to lead oversight of Terminal 1 fire. Joined FAAN MD & team actively managing situation. Directed morning inspection Tuesday to guide restoration & confirm safety standards. Reaffirmed focus on passenger safety. Story: [link] #KeyamoMMIA #FireIncident #FAAN](https://fullcliphq.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mym-150x150.jpg "MMIA Fire: Keyamo Inspects Lagos Airport After Terminal 1 Blaze Disrupts Flights")
The Department of State Services (DSS), Kwara State Command, has issued an urgent security alert to the Kwara State Police Command warning of a possible attack on the Gbabe community in Baruten Local Government Area.
The alert, contained in a letter dated February 5, 2026, signed by State Director J.S. Adams (reference S.122/1/1897), was addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command Headquarters, Ilorin.
The DSS letter titled “Threat of Attack on Gbabe, Baruten LGA” stated: “Report indicates possible threat of attack by armed group, on Gbabe Community, Gwanara District, Baruten Local Government Area (LGA), Kwara State. This stemmed from the build-up of armed men suspected to be Mamuda elements around Kiyoru Settlement, even as the villagers have expressed hostility towards the elements.”
It further noted the history of violent activities by armed groups operating around Kainji Lake National Park and stressed the need for heightened vigilance in communities within the corridor. “In view of the antecedents of armed groups around Kainji Lake National Park, there is a need to emplace necessary security measures to forestall any untoward development,” the letter added.
The DSS urged the police to treat the intelligence with urgency and take appropriate measures to prevent a breakdown of law and order. “Respectfully forwarded for your attention and necessary action, please,” it concluded.
Context and Recent Attacks
The alert comes just days after a deadly assault on the Woro community in Kaiama LGA (also in Kwara North), where armed men suspected to be from the same Mamuda/Mahmuda group killed scores of residents and forced survivors to flee. Eyewitnesses and survivors described attackers operating from forested areas spanning Kaiama and Baruten LGAs, extending toward the Benin Republic border — a route security agencies have repeatedly identified as vulnerable for infiltration.
Official Response
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq convened an emergency security council meeting with heads of security agencies on Monday night, February 9, 2026, at Ahmadu Bello House, Ilorin. The governor said the meeting reviewed the security situation and strengthened coordinated efforts to neutralize emerging threats.
“As part of our multi-layered response to the recent terrorist attack in Kaiama LGA, I summoned an emergency security council meeting at the Ahmadu Bello House in Ilorin today,” AbdulRazaq said. He received briefings from all security commanders and discussed strategies to neutralise threats to citizens and secure lives and property.
Earlier, Governors Usman Ododo (Kogi) and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) accompanied AbdulRazaq to visit victims of the Woro attack receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Ilorin. “We stand in solidarity with the people of Kwara State over this unfortunate incident. We also commend the Federal Government and security agencies for the swift response,” Oyebanji said.
OPC Calls for State of Emergency
The Yoruba socio-cultural group Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has urged governors of the South-West zone, Kwara, Kogi, and other “Yoruba-speaking” states to immediately declare a state of emergency over escalating insecurity. In a statement issued by Chairman of Dr. Frederick Fasehun’s OPC Caretaker Committee, Kazeem Lawal, on February 10, 2026, the group described the Woro killings as “heartbreaking and provocative” and insisted jihadist terrorists must be hunted down and shot on sight.
Lawal cautioned governors against politicising insecurity and urged collaboration for rapid solutions. “Governors of the 10 Yoruba-speaking states must immediately declare a state of emergency on security to reflect the gravity of the situation,” he said. The OPC declared readiness to defend Yoruba land and warned it would not allow terrorists to overwhelm the South-West as they have in the North.
Broader Security Concerns in Kwara North
The Gbabe alert and recent Woro attack highlight ongoing insecurity in Kwara North, particularly in forested areas around Kainji Lake National Park. Armed groups exploit porous borders with Niger State and Benin Republic, using hideouts for raids, kidnappings, and ideological enforcement. Residents and local leaders have expressed anxiety, calling for sustained security deployments beyond reactive measures.
As of February 11, 2026, security has been reinforced in parts of Kaiama, but Baruten communities remain on edge. No further incidents were reported in Gbabe as of publication, but the DSS warning underscores the persistent threat in the region.
