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.
