Residents of several Kwara border communities have raised alarm over what they describe as a massive influx of suspected Fulani herders arriving in truckloads for ongoing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) registration.
Diaspora Digital Media gathered that the incidents were reported across Kaiama and Baruten local government areas, both located along Nigeria’s porous border with the Republic of Benin.
Locals said the number of new arrivals was “unprecedented” and warned of possible political and security consequences ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Multiple eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that for weeks, several trucks had been seen transporting groups of men believed to be herders into remote settlements and registration points.
Many residents said they feared the mobilisation could be a coordinated effort to manipulate the state’s voter demographics.
“They started bringing them about a month ago,” a community member who requested anonymity said.
“We suddenly began seeing strange faces coming in groups to register for PVCs. We can’t tell who’s local and who’s being brought in for another agenda.”
Another resident described the movement as “well-organised and suspicious,” adding that it had stirred unease across the region. “It looks political,” he said. “People fear this could change the voting balance or even spark future land disputes.”
The ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which started nationwide in August 2025, allows eligible Nigerians to register both online and in person. According to INEC, the process will continue until August 30, 2026.
An INEC official in Baruten, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said the Commission’s responsibility is to register all eligible residents or workers within each local government.
“Anyone who meets the residency requirement can register,” the official said.
“But proper verification must be done to ensure only legitimate residents participate.”
However, locals insist that the volume and coordination of new registrants are too large to ignore.
Some fear that the influx could inflame ethnic tensions or heighten security risks in a state already struggling with banditry, kidnappings, and herder–farmer clashes.
In September, reports indicated that INEC offices in Patigi and Edu LGAs were shut down after officials fled due to repeated bandit attacks.
Security sources had warned that electoral workers were potential targets for abduction, prompting fears of further disruptions.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has faced criticism from residents for what they call a “slow response” to rising insecurity and migration pressure in northern border towns.
For now, the registration continues but so do the questions about who these new registrants are, who brought them, and why.
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