Escalating Insecurity Forces Kwara Farmers Off the Land, Many Turn to Okada Riding to Survive

In Kwara State, rising insecurity — marked by kidnappings, armed raids, and pervasive fear in rural communities — has driven many farmers to abandon their farmlands and seek alternative livelihoods in urban centres, with a significant number taking up commercial motorcycle (okada) riding to earn a living.

Farming communities in areas including Ifelodun, Ekiti, Lafiagi, and Patigi have witnessed a sharp decline in agricultural activity as gunmen and kidnappers target isolated farmers and their families. This wave of violence has not only made farming too dangerous but has also displaced residents, pushing them into other occupations like okada riding in towns such as Ilorin.

Security challenges in the state — including frequent kidnappings and attacks — have had broader economic impacts, with rural populations protesting and demanding government intervention as livelihoods are lost and local food production declines.