Community Defense Forces in Crisis: Expert
By Onibiyo Segun
(Lata Nna, Kwara State) – A former Kwara lawmaker alleges Fulani militia terrorists seized his farm, harvested his crops and sold them openly, raising fears that jihadist militia are expanding control over rural communities in this embattled Middle Belt State.
Former Patigi County [local government area] Chairman and one-term Kwara State House of Assembly member Hon. Dauda Lata says Fulani militia terrorists took over his farm, destroying a ₦150 million ($111,000) investment while he was unable to intervene.
“In 2025, Fulani militia terrorists seized my farm and took it over. I am a big farmer, and I invested up to ₦150 million (about $111,000) on that farm. I texted the governor and the Speaker, no response,” Lata said.
“We always see these Fulani militia terrorists live and direct. They took crops and produce from my farm and brought them to our market to sell them and I could not do anything to stop them,” he said.
Lata Nna is an agrarian, mixed-religion rural settlement in Patigi County, Kwara North Senatorial District of Kwara State. The community is within the Savanna belt near the River Niger basin, where farming remains the main livelihood.
Lata made the allegation during an interview on Diamond FM Ilorin, saying repeated appeals to government authorities failed to protect his community located along the Kwara-Kogi border.
For residents of Kwara North, the allegation reflects a growing fear that farmers are losing access to land and livelihoods as armed groups challenge government authority in remote communities.
TruthNigeria previously reported allegations of armed groups destroying farmland and harvests in Benue State, an agricultural powerhouse in Central Nigeria, as part of attacks affecting rural communities.
Kwara Communities Face Growing Violence
Beyond the alleged farm takeover, Lata described a long history of attacks in his community, accusing armed Fulani militia terrorists of using a nearby grazing reserve as a base for operations.
“Those Fulanis living with us in 2020 burned our community, killed a lot of people. Till date, the government has done nothing about it. Our community is at the border area between Kwara and Kogi. The grazing reserve that is in our community is what they used as their base to attack us,” Lata said.
TruthNigeria has previously reported attacks in Patigi, Kaiama and other Kwara North communities involving suspected Fulani Ethnic Militia terrorist groups.
“Fulanis killed more than 100 people from my community even last year. More than 100 vigilantes were also killed. We buried them in a mass grave. The people handled the burial ourselves. Neither the local government assisted us nor did they offer any condolences,” Lata said during the ‘E Bawa Dasi’ (Intervene) show on Diamond 88.7 FM, Ilorin.
A vigilante leader in neighboring Lataworo village, Sunday Kasali, told TruthNigeria, “Many of our comrades have been killed by these Fulani terrorists. Many adjoining villages have been deserted and burned down by the terrorists.”
Kasali added that daily life has been disrupted: “Nobody can go to the farm, church or mosque. Schools and markets are out of it. We are under siege,” he said.
TruthNigeria previously reported attacks in Kaiama County, including the killing of forest guards in Nuku community and other raids that intensified fears among residents.
Lata said kidnapping has become another tool used to pressure residents, with victims held for ransom.
“These Fulani terrorists also kidnapped people and up till now the people have not been released. They are asking for ₦50 million (about $37,000) as ransom. We told the government about this too, nothing happened,” Lata added.
TruthNigeria previously reported a Nigerian Army operation that rescued 21 captives from suspected Fulani militia terrorist camps in Kwara forests.
Experts Warn Of Collapsing Local Defense Forces
Dr. Murtala Rufai, a banditry researcher at Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, told TruthNigeria that if Lata’s allegations are confirmed, it would indicate a breakdown of community protection systems.
“If Hon. Lata’s claim is true, it means community defense has completely collapsed. Even if the figure requires verification, it reflects deep trauma and declining trust in state protection,” Rufai said.
Prof. Abiodun Alao, Professor of African Politics at King’s College London, told TruthNigeria that ransom demands can help sustain armed groups.
“₦50 million is at the extreme end but not impossible. We’re seeing ransom inflation because groups are holding fewer, high-value group abductions,” Alao said.
Amnesty International data shows Fulani militia attacks killed 6,896 people in Benue State alone between May 2023 and May 2025, highlighting the wider scale of civilian casualties linked to militia violence in Nigeria.
Fear Forces Locals to Show Deference to Murderers
Lata said years of attacks have forced residents to use expressions of endearment to visiting killers and kidnappers.
“It reached a stage that we started calling them ‘Brother,’ a sign of respect to elders and giving them honour because we cannot do anything to stop them from doing whatever they want to do in our community. They always come with guns,” he said.
“When communities abandon places of worship, farms, schools and markets because of fear, armed groups are no longer just attacking people; they are taking control,” Prof. Alao said.
For residents of Lata Nna and surrounding communities, the question remains whether security forces can restore confidence before fear permanently reshapes rural life.
Onibiyo Segun reports on conflict and terrorism for TruthNigeria.
