The Department of State Services, Kwara State Command, has alerted the state Police Command to intelligence indicating an imminent attack on Gbabe community in Baruten Local Government Area.
The warning followed the recent devastating raid on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area, which claimed several lives.
In a correspondence dated February 5, 2026, and signed by the State Director, J.S. Adams, the security agency notified the state Commissioner of Police about suspicious movements of armed elements in the area.
The document, with reference number S.122/1/1897 and titled Threat of Attack on Gbabe, Baruten LGA, highlighted the concentration of armed men, believed to be Mamuda militants, around Kiyoru Settlement in Gwanara District.
“Intelligence gathered suggests an impending assault by armed elements on Gbabe Community, Gwanara District, Baruten Local Government Area. This follows the gathering of suspected Mamuda fighters around Kiyoru Settlement, with local residents expressing concern about their hostile presence,” the correspondence stated.
The agency drew attention to previous violent incidents involving armed groups operating from the Kainji Lake National Park vicinity, emphasising the necessity for enhanced security in neighbouring communities.
“Given the track record of armed gangs in the Kainji Lake National Park area, proactive security arrangements must be deployed to avert potential disasters,” the service noted.
The intelligence report called on law enforcement authorities to act swiftly to maintain public order and prevent violence.
The development has sparked fear among inhabitants and community leaders, particularly as it comes barely a week after the Woro incident, where gunmen allegedly massacred numerous residents, forcing survivors to abandon their homes.
Witnesses reported that the assailants launched their operation from forest areas straddling Kaiama and Baruten councils, extending towards Benin Republic, a corridor repeatedly flagged as a security weak point.
At press time, security forces had been reinforced in sections of Kaiama following the Woro onslaught, while Baruten residents remained apprehensive about the new threat.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq convened an urgent Security Council session with service chiefs on Monday evening at Ahmadu Bello House, Ilorin.
The governor stated that the emergency meeting sought to assess the security landscape and enhance joint operations against emerging dangers.
“In response to the recent terrorist incident in Kaiama Local Government Area, I summoned an emergency meeting of the State Security Council at Ahmadu Bello House this evening,” AbdulRazaq disclosed.
The governor received situation reports from all security commanders in the state and deliberated on approaches to eliminate threats and safeguard citizens.
Prior to the meeting, Governors Usman Ododo of Kogi and Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti had joined AbdulRazaq on a sympathy visit to survivors undergoing medical care at the General Hospital, Ilorin.
“We stand with the people of Kwara State during this tragic period. We equally commend the Federal Government and security operatives for their prompt intervention. The patients are in stable condition but remain under intensive monitoring,” Oyebanji remarked.
Meanwhile, the Oodua People’s Congress, a Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, has called on governors of South-West states, Kwara, Kogi and other Yoruba-speaking areas to declare a security emergency in response to rising violence.
The group made the appeal through a statement released by Kazeem Lawal, Chairman of the Dr. Frederick Fasehun OPC Caretaker Committee, on Tuesday.