People Living With Disabilities (PLWD) in Kwara State have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Kwara State Government, and security agencies to secure the immediate release of an abducted widow and PLWD member, Mrs Mosunmola Adekunle.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Thursday, the group, in collaboration with non-governmental organisations, religious bodies, and community associations, said the widow, who has hearing and speech impairments, was among eight persons abducted during a church attack in the Omugo community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, on 22 March 2026.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said that over 390 PLWD have been reported killed by bandits, while over 200 PLWD are currently in the custody of abductors across parts of the country.
Ajayi Mercy, who represented the NHRC at a press conference organised to call for the release of Mrs Adekunle, said insecurity affects PLWD more than other groups because they face greater difficulty accessing safety, healthcare, education, and livelihoods.
She called on governments and relevant stakeholders to give greater consideration to PLWD in addressing insecurity, stressing that human rights are not privileges but fundamental rights regardless of disability.
The convener of the press conference, Mrs Joy Bolarin of the Jibore Impeccable Foundation, Ilorin, lamented that five of the eight victims abducted alongside Mrs Adekunle had reportedly died in captivity, adding that the widow has seven children—two girls and five boys—who are currently without care.
Mrs Bolarin said that even if the abducted church usher is eventually released, her hearing and speech impairment would make it difficult for her to communicate or find her way home safely.
She decried the rising insecurity in the state, particularly attacks on PLWD, and called on relevant authorities to strengthen security across Kwara State and the country.
She recalled that in February, one Ademola Onijala, an amputee, was abducted in Ola community in Isin Local Government Area and later killed by his abductors, leaving behind a wife and four children.
She also noted that she established a school over 30 years ago in Oro Ago, Ifelodun Local Government Area, but that the Jibore School is now closed due to banditry, lamenting the impact of insecurity on the education of vulnerable children.
Mrs Bolarin further advocated monthly financial support for displaced persons with disabilities, saying they suffer both emotional and financial hardship.
A community leader in Kwara South, Tajudeen Jimoh Olaitan, also called on the Kwara State Government and security agencies to urgently address the growing insecurity in the state.
Similarly, the Assistant Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ifelodun Local Government chapter, Ogundile Oluwafemi Peter, appealed to both federal and state governments to secure the safe release of the abducted PLWD member and improve security in the state.
