Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, and members of his newly established Iru Ekun security network have visited Owa Onire and other abandoned communities and farmlands in Kwara State amid continuing concerns over kidnapping and insecurity in parts of Kwara South.
Footage circulating online shows members of the security network inspecting deserted settlements and farmland in the area.
The development comes against the backdrop of persistent security concerns that have forced residents of several communities in Kwara South to leave their homes and relocate to safer areas.
Reports circulating on social media said Igboho and members of Iru Ekun visited Owa Onire and other communities following reports of kidnapping and attacks by armed groups.
While social-media posts have described the attackers as Fulani militias, that specific attribution has not been independently established from the latest footage.
However, the wider security situation in the area has been documented by Nigerian media.
In July, reports indicated that about 20 traditional rulers in Kwara whose communities had been affected by repeated bandit attacks had engaged Iru Ekun to support efforts aimed at restoring security and facilitating the return of displaced residents.
The Owa Onire monarch, Oba AbdulRahman Fabiyi, previously confirmed that Iru Ekun personnel had entered Kwara South, although he said at the time that they had not yet reached Owa Onire.
The monarch, who had relocated to Ilorin, welcomed the initiative and expressed hope that security efforts would eventually enable residents to return to their communities.
Other communities in the region have similarly experienced displacement following attacks, with residents and traditional rulers relocating to Ilorin and neighbouring communities for safety.
The involvement of Iru Ekun has also attracted engagement from other security stakeholders in the area.
Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, coordinator of Joint Security Watch Kwara South, previously confirmed that his organisation had met with members of Iru Ekun, with soldiers also present at the meeting.
He said the priority should be rescuing residents still being held captive and helping displaced communities return home.
Among the cases highlighted were the remaining Omugo abductees and 15 worshippers of Ikerin Church who were reportedly kidnapped.
Oyin-Zubair, however, stressed that any security operation should remain within legal and operational boundaries.
The head of Iru Ekun, Muyiwa Adeniyi, reportedly pledged that the group would work with the police, military and other recognised security agencies in its efforts to restore peace in Kwara South.
A military officer who attended the earlier security meeting also cautioned the group against confrontation with formal security agencies.
That warning highlights the importance of coordination between community-based security initiatives and Nigeria's conventional security institutions, particularly in areas experiencing armed attacks and kidnapping.
Beyond the immediate security threat, the abandonment of villages and farmlands has broader implications for residents whose livelihoods depend heavily on agriculture.
When farmers are unable to access their farms because of fear of kidnapping or armed attacks, agricultural production can suffer while communities become increasingly deserted.
The presence of Iru Ekun in the affected areas is therefore being viewed by its supporters as an attempt to create conditions that could eventually allow displaced residents to reclaim their homes and farmland.
However, any claims that the latest operation has already eliminated armed groups from the affected communities would be premature without confirmation from security authorities.
The latest visit by Igboho and Iru Ekun comes as communities across Kwara South continue to demand stronger protection against kidnapping and other forms of criminality.
For residents, the immediate priority remains the safe return of those displaced, the rescue of people still in captivity and the restoration of normal economic and agricultural activity.
While Iru Ekun has pledged to cooperate with government security agencies, the extent of its operations and its long-term role in the region will likely remain subject to scrutiny.
For now, the visit to Owa Onire and other abandoned communities represents another development in the continuing effort to address insecurity and restore confidence among residents of Kwara South.
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