Student Leader , Brother Killed in Kwara Bandit Attack: Urgent Calls for Action to Combat Insecurity
In a tragic incident that has left the Kwara State College of Nursing Sciences (KWASCONS) community in mourning, a bandit attack in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday night claimed the lives of a midwifery student and his brother. The victims, Salihu Bio Khalid, a former president of the Student Union Government (SUG) at KWASCONS, and his sibling, were among the many residents killed in the attack, which has drawn widespread condemnation and raised alarms about growing insecurity in the region.
Khalid, whose leadership and dedication to student welfare were widely praised, was remembered by the student body as a courageous and impactful leader. His contributions to the student movement and the lasting impression he left on his peers were recognized in a statement by the National Association of Nigeria Comrades (NANC) Kwara Axis. The association expressed its deep shock over the loss and called for immediate action to safeguard students and residents in the state, particularly in student-populated areas and along major transit routes.
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The association also urged the Kwara State Government and security agencies to strengthen security measures and investigate the attack thoroughly to bring the perpetrators to justice. “Senator Salihu Bio Khalid’s contributions to the student movement will remain indelible in our collective memory,” the NANC Kwara Axis statement read. “We pray Almighty God grants the departed eternal rest and gives the bereaved family and the entire student community the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
The tragic loss has sparked outrage among politicians and community leaders across the state. The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, condemned the attack and called for heightened military action in the area, particularly along the border with Niger State. He urged local communities to cooperate with security agencies to address the escalating insecurity in the region.
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Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly, also voiced his concern, describing the attack as a “senseless act.” In a press release, he emphasized the need for increased vigilance, unity, and stronger community collaboration to tackle banditry. He called for additional troops to be deployed to the affected communities to restore peace and security.
The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed its condemnation of the attack, describing it as “despicable, inhuman, and callous.” The party called on the state government to provide humanitarian assistance, including relief materials and medical support, to the victims and their families. It also demanded that security agencies intensify efforts to track down and prosecute the criminals responsible for the attack.