Focused Group Discussion on Insecurity and Its Impact on Women in Kwara State

On August 25, 2025, Olive Community Development Initiative (OCDI) facilitated a Focused Group Discussion with women from affected Local Government Areas across Kwara State, including Patigi, Edu, Baruten, and Ifelodun LGAs. The session aimed to gather firsthand insights into the realities of insecurity and its effects on women and their families. During the discussion, participants shared personal experiences related to displacement, kidnappings, loss of livelihoods, and disruptions to community life. The conversation also highlighted the heightened risks of gender-based violence, including physical abuse, sexual exploitation, and emotional trauma, particularly in communities affected by insecurity. Key findings from the discussion revealed that insecurity has significantly disrupted businesses, farming activities, and social structures. Many women reported remaining silent about their experiences due to fear of stigma and retaliation, while the absence of adequate psychosocial support systems further compounded their challenges. Participants emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive support services, including psychosocial, medical, financial, security, legal, and livelihood assistance. The women also called on government authorities and relevant stakeholders to establish internally displaced persons camps, strengthen welfare support, and improve security interventions across affected communities. Through this engagement, OCDI reiterated its call on the Kwara State Government to urgently implement the Women, Peace and Security Action Plan launched in April 2022, ensuring that women’s voices are meaningfully included in decision-making, peacebuilding, and recovery processes. The organization acknowledges ActionAid Nigeria, through the Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria Project, for supporting the launch and domestication of the WPS Action Plan, and appreciates the Kwara State Ministry of Women Affairs for its continued support toward strengthening peace and security in the state.