Panic As Truckloads of Fulani Herders Storm Kwara Border for Voter Registration

Tension is mounting in parts of Kwara State following reports that truckloads of Fulani herders have been arriving at border communities in Kaiama and Baruten local government areas to participate in voter registration.

Residents say the influx is unusually large, sparking fears of political manipulation and security challenges. Both Kaiama and Baruten, which are largely Batonu-speaking, share a porous border with the Republic of Benin making it difficult to track movements across the frontier.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently launched its nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. Online pre-registration began on August 18, 2025, while physical registration kicked off a week later on August 25. The process is set to continue until August 30, 2026.

Viral footage  on X by newsmen has fueled public concern, with many Nigerians questioning the motives behind the large-scale mobilisation. Locals and social media users say they are closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds.