At Ayosifam Integrated Service Limited, our heart beats for the smallholder farmers who are the backbone of our nation. But today, that heart is heavy. We are sharing a somber update from Oni-ko community in Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State, a vital source for the very cassava that reaches your tables.
On March 23, 2026, a dark cloud fell over Oni-ko. Armed bandits, wielding sophisticated weapons that have left the community in a state of paralyzing fear, invaded the village. In a senseless act of violence, one woman was killed, and four other women were abducted. The attackers are now demanding a staggering ₦200 million ransom—an amount that is impossibly out of reach for a community of humble farmers.
The Invisible Toll on Your Dinner Plate
This isn’t just a local tragedy; it is a direct assault on Nigeria’s food security. When bandits strike, the impact ripples through the entire value chain:
-
Deserted Farmlands: Farming is a labour of peace. Today, the farmers of Oni-ko are too afraid to go to their fields. When the person who plants the cassava is running for their life, the harvest fails, and the prices in the city skyrocket.
-
The Broken Chain: Ayosifam relies on these resilient women and men. When a community like Oni-ko is besieged, the supply of raw materials to our processing centers is choked. This leads to scarcity of the healthy, fermented staples you rely on.
-
A Climate of Fear: Sophisticated weaponry has replaced the sounds of the harvest. This fear doesn’t just steal lives; it steals the future of agricultural productivity in Kwara State.
A Plea to the Kwara State Government
We recognize the efforts of the Kwara State Government and security agencies, but the situation in Oni-ko and the wider Moro LGA requires urgent, specialized intervention.
We call on His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to:
-
Deploy Immediate Security Reinforcements: To Oni-ko and surrounding agricultural hubs to allow farmers to return to their lands safely.
-
Support Local Vigilante Groups: Empowering those who know the terrain best with the resources and oversight needed to protect their homes.
-
Ensure Safe Passage: The “Operation Savannah Shield” must be intensified in these specific forest corridors where bandits find cover.
Standing with Oni-ko
To the people of Oni-ko: Ayosifam stands with you. We mourn the life lost and pray for the safe return of the four women still in captivity.
We cannot have a prosperous Nigeria without a safe Nigeria. Let us protect the hands that feed us.
