Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar, representing Kwara North Senatorial District, has expressed profound sorrow and solidarity with communities in his constituency following a recent resurgence of bandit attacks that have claimed lives and disrupted livelihoods.
The Senator specifically mentioned affected areas including Edu, Patigi, and Baruten Local Government Areas, where innocent citizens were attacked and some reportedly abducted.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Senator Sadiq conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to grieving families, acknowledging the ultimate price paid by “courageous local vigilantes.” He condemned the senseless attack that has once again shaken the district’s collective peace, stating, “My thoughts and prayers are with every grieving household. I mourn with you and I stand with you.”
Despite the sorrow, the lawmaker offered a message of hope, asserting that “help is on the way.” He assured his constituents that he is not standing idly by and has intensified engagements with both the Kwara State Government and Federal security agencies, in close coordination with other critical stakeholders in the region. These efforts, he noted, are already “yielding results in the form of strategic responses and enhanced security deployments to restore calm.”
He particularly commended His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq CON, for his swift intervention through tactical operations, bolstered community engagement, and support for local security structures.
Sadiq described these measures as steps in the right direction, expressing hope that they will translate into lasting peace.
“We will not and cannot allow our people to live in fear. This is a time for collective resolve,” Senator Sadiq declared, adding that work is ongoing behind the scenes to ensure that their voices are not only heard, but translated into action.
He saluted the bravery of “local heroes” – the vigilantes, community leaders, and every citizen showing resolve, acknowledging their resilience as “the foundation of our strength.”
Similarly, he stressed, “the fight against banditry is not yours to bear alone. It is a shared responsibility, and one which I fully embrace as your representative.”
Senator Sadiq urged communities to remain vigilant and stay hopeful, advising them not to “surrender to fear or despair,” but to report suspicious activities, support ongoing security efforts, and reject the culture of silence that enables these criminals.
He concluded with a solemn promise, stating “Peace may seem distant now, but it is not out of reach. Our land will know peace again. Our children will sleep safely. Our farmers will return to their fields without fear and together, we will rise stronger than before. I will not rest until Kwara North is safe again.”
