Kaima killings and the cauldron of Kwara State — by Folorunso Adisa
The mass killing in the Kaima community, where 75 deaths have been recorded so far, has placed Kwara State in a position of grave concern. Undeniably, the state is a melting pot of diverse ethnic groups, including Yoruba and Fulani, among others. It also shares borders with several Nigerian states and with the Republic of Benin. This richness in people and geography should have translated into strong human capital, material growth, and development. Instead, it is increasingly marked by violence and loss.
It should trouble every reasonable mind that death has become a recurring feature in Kwara State. When it is not kidnapping, it is killing. Not long ago, the state was shaken by persistent bandit attacks in Kwara North. Newspapers were filled with reports of daily assaults on communities and the killing of forest guards, a situation that eventually led to the situation of military presence in the area. It is therefore deeply saddening to witness yet another tragedy, with 75 people reportedly killed in Kaima.
Two possibilities present themselves. Either the government is failing in its primary duty to protect lives and property, with security agencies appearing inactive and insufficiently coordinated, or some within the affected communities are enabling criminal elements through silence or complicity. Whatever the case, the outcome is unacceptable.
Security is everyone’s responsibility. Yet the greater obligation rests with the state. Even where criminal elements exist within communities, it remains the government’s duty to safeguard lives and property and to prevent violence. The government must act decisively and restore safety and confidence. A state cannot endure if its people continue to perish, for without citizens, governance itself loses meaning.
