Southern Governors Condemn Kwara Killings, Reject Religious Coercion

The Southern Governors’ Forum has strongly condemned the recent deadly attacks in parts of Kwara State, declaring that no group has the right to impose its beliefs on others under any guise.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the forum’s chairman and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, the governors described the killings in Kaiama Local Government Area as barbaric, senseless, and a direct assault on Nigeria’s constitutional values of freedom of religion and peaceful coexistence. The governors stressed that Nigeria is a secular nation where citizens are guaranteed the right to practice their faith freely, warning that attempts by extremist groups to force religious or ideological beliefs on communities threaten national unity and stability. They expressed deep condolences to the families of victims and the government and people of Kwara State, while calling for swift and decisive action by security agencies to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the attacks. “The perpetrators of these heinous acts must be brought to justice. Violence and extremism have no place in our society,” the statement read. The forum also urged the Federal Government to strengthen security operations in affected areas to prevent further attacks and restore confidence among residents who have been displaced by the violence. The Kwara attacks, which reportedly claimed over 160 lives, have drawn widespread condemnation from within and outside Nigeria, including civil society groups and international partners. President Bola Tinubu has since ordered the deployment of additional security forces to the area, while the Kwara State Government has announced relief measures for affected communities. Southern governors reiterated their commitment to promoting tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and the rule of law, warning that failure to confront rising extremism could have grave consequences for the country.