Security researcher Steven Kefas has alleged that ethnic militia groups are planning to expand violent campaigns into Nigeria’s Southwest, warning that recent attacks in parts of the country may signal a broader security threat.
Kefas, in a statement shared on social media, claimed he had earlier warned about the possible spread of violence through Kwara State as a strategic route into the Southwest region.
“Having researched and investigated the Fulani ethnic militia activities in Nigeria, I remember telling an editor two years ago that the militants were planning to expand their violence campaigns to the southwest through Kwara,” Kefas said.
According to him, his earlier warnings were dismissed at the time due to what was perceived as insufficient evidence.
“He looked at me and asked what evidence I had. I told him that new fighters were being recruited, some from the Sahel, and they were already moving through Kebbi to Niger State and would subsequently reach Kwara and parts of Kogi states,” he said.
Kefas stated that the editor later contacted him after violence reportedly escalated in Kwara State.
“When the violence started in Kwara, he called me and said, ‘How did you know about all these things?’ I told him: I am a field researcher who is always on the ground, interacting with sources. I am privileged to access lots of information,” he added.
The researcher further alleged that the violence could spread beyond Kwara if urgent steps are not taken.
“Kwara isn’t the end. The plan is to invade Oyo and other southwest states after Kwara in a fashion that Amotekun, the southwest security outfit, cannot withstand,” he claimed.
Kefas also expressed concern over the scale of recent attacks across the country, alleging that hundreds of farmers had been killed within a short period.
“In the last 48 hours alone, over 300 farmers have been murdered across Nigeria, yet the government is more interested in the next election and who decamps to the APC,” he said.
He criticised what he described as an inadequate government response to the killings, stressing the need for urgent security reforms.
“The systematic expansion of militia violence across Nigeria demands immediate and decisive action. What was once dismissed as speculation is now a tragic reality,” Kefas said.
He warned that failure to address the situation could worsen insecurity nationwide.
“Nigeria’s leaders must prioritise the security and lives of citizens over political ambitions, or risk the complete breakdown of safety and trust across the nation. The warning signs are clear; the question is whether anyone in power is listening,” he stated.
