Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a candidate for the presidency, has issued a stark warning that Northern Nigeria is on the brink of descending into conflict unless swift and unified national measures are implemented to curb the escalating terrorism and banditry crisis.
In a recent statement, Olawepo-Hashim expressed his heartfelt sympathies to the families affected by the brutal bandit raid in Oke Ode, located in the Ifelodun local government area of Kwara State, where 15 individuals-including local vigilantes and the village chief-lost their lives.
He urgently called for immediate security interventions to secure the release of those abducted during the attack.
The politician disclosed that two months prior, he engaged in a focused 30-minute discussion on security matters with Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who also serves as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
During this meeting, Olawepo-Hashim shared a detailed security analysis model addressing the situation in Kwara and the broader Northern region. Despite the governor’s assurances that the security challenges were manageable, recent violent incidents have demonstrated that the problem exceeds his current capacity to control.
“It is clear that, despite his dedicated efforts, the magnitude of these issues surpasses his ability to contain them,” he remarked.
Olawepo-Hashim painted a dire picture of the future, warning that terrorist groups are actively strategizing to gain enough influence to govern certain Northern states, contingent on political shifts anticipated in 2027.
“God forbid, but there are unmistakable signs that terrorist factions are maneuvering to establish control over some Northern states,” he cautioned, highlighting the North Central region as a probable hotspot for such upheaval.
He emphasized that the massacre in Oke Ode serves as a grim indicator of the intensifying threat, echoing previous violent episodes in Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, as well as Baruteen and Pategi local government areas within Kwara State.
Furthermore, Olawepo-Hashim criticized Nigeria’s political elite for their apparent indifference and detachment from the suffering of everyday citizens.
“It is deeply unfortunate that those in leadership are downplaying this rapidly growing menace. Many among our ruling class remain distant or preoccupied with their own agendas, leaving vulnerable communities exposed and defenseless,” he lamented.
He urged for the immediate deployment of well-coordinated, expert-led security operations to prevent a complete breakdown of state authority, stressing that Nigeria cannot permit terrorists and criminal networks to entrench themselves in areas lacking effective governance.
