Author: admin

…says suspects in viral video were arrested outside the state as investigations continue

The Kwara State Government has dismissed claims circulating on social media that the Nigerian Army arrested armed bandits in Ifelodun Local Government Area, describing the reports as false and capable of causing unnecessary panic.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, the government said no security agency, including the Nigerian Army, carried out any arrest of armed bandits in Ifelodun or any other part of Kwara State.

“The Nigerian Army did not arrest any armed bandits in any part of Ifelodun,” the statement said, adding that the government had closely reviewed the viral video in which some suspects claimed they were in possession of a vehicle allegedly given to them by the “Ilorin Government” and weapons supposedly sourced “from Abuja.”

According to the state government, while the content of the video and the circumstances surrounding the suspects are under investigation, available information indicates that the individuals were not arrested in Kwara State. Rather, they were reportedly apprehended in Auchi, Edo State. The government said further details are being awaited to clarify the situation.

The statement also clarified that no state government has the authority to arm individuals with AK-47 rifles, stressing that the suspects did not claim that the Kwara State Government provided them with any weapons.

On the issue of the vehicle mentioned in the video, the government said the Ifelodun Local Government Authority had confirmed that a security van was earlier provided to vigilantes deployed in the area to support security efforts. However, the vigilantes have since left Ifelodun, and the local government had previously reported that the vehicle was not returned to its custody.

The state government called for stronger interagency coordination, intelligence sharing, and cooperation among security agencies as part of efforts to curb banditry and other violent crimes.

It also urged members of the public, especially online media platforms and bloggers, to exercise restraint and avoid misrepresenting security-related information.

“Biased assimilation or misrepresentation of information poses a serious threat to human lives and public peace,” the statement said, assuring residents that security agencies are probing the matter and that the government remains committed to public safety.

…Routine stop-and-search leads to major breakthrough in ongoing crackdown on kidnapping networks

Police operatives in Kwara State have arrested a suspected arms courier and recovered 100 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition during a routine stop-and-search operation along the Gbugbu/Patigi road in Edu Local Government Area.

The arrest comes barely 24 hours after operatives of the Department of State Services apprehended a medical doctor accused of transporting medical supplies from Sokoto State to kidnapping gangs operating within Kwara.

According to security sources, a patrol team attached to the Lafiaji Area Command intercepted a Toyota Corolla with registration number EP 434 ABC at about 7:30 a.m. on Friday. During the search, officers discovered 100 rounds of live ammunition concealed among personal belongings, alongside various charms believed to be used for protection.

The vehicle was driven by one Owolaramfe Rafiu, who was travelling with four other occupants identified as Musa Mohammed, Adam Alhaji Lawal, and Musa Shaibu. All occupants were immediately arrested.

Police authorities confirmed that an investigation is underway to track down the intended recipient of the ammunition, noting that the arrests form part of a broader effort to curb the operations of kidnapping syndicates in the state.

The suspects remain in custody as security agencies intensify their crackdown on criminal networks across Kwara.

…Coordinated Security Operations Yield Arrests of Arms Courier, Suspect, and Medicinal Supplier

Kwara State has recorded significant breakthroughs in counter-banditry operations with the arrest of a key kidnapping syndicate member and an allied medical supplier within 24 hours. The arrests follow the earlier interception of an arms courier transporting 100 rounds of live ammunition along the Gbugbu-Patigi road on Friday.

Police operatives, acting on community intelligence from Oro-Ago in Ifelodun Local Government Area, apprehended Aliu Abubakar at a local motor park. Initially claiming to be visiting an uncle, Abubakar was linked through digital evidence to images brandishing an AK-47 rifle alongside known associates Buba, Auta, and Bello ‘Smally’. Further photographs showed large sums of cash he confessed were proceeds from kidnapping activities.

This operation came hours after the Department of State Services arrested a medical doctor accused of supplying drugs and medication to kidnapping gangs in the state. The suspect is currently aiding investigations with what officials describe as valuable intelligence for ongoing counter-kidnapping missions.

Security authorities confirm the coordinated operations have visibly disrupted resurgent banditry activities, restoring a sense of safety in recently affected communities. The police emphasized continued collaboration with local vigilantes and residents to sustain the gains.

…Charges 2,600 New Forest Guards

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Saturday visited the Ilorin training ground of the newly recruited 2,600 forest guards to assess their progress and boost their morale as they prepare for deployment across the state.

The governor was received by senior officials overseeing the programme, who briefed him on the structure of the training and the readiness of the recruits. AbdulRazaq moved around the facility, observing drills and interacting with instructors and trainees. His visit, officials said, was a strong signal of the administration’s determination to strengthen security in communities affected by recent threats.

Security trainers at the centre reported that the recruits have recorded steady improvement since the programme began, noting that the hands-on sessions are equipping them for field operations once they are deployed.

The state government has already trained and deployed more than 700 forest guards who now operate alongside conventional security agencies. The new batch is expected to further reinforce surveillance efforts, particularly in rural areas where bandits previously used ungoverned forests as hideouts.

While military operations continue to clear these difficult terrains, the forest guards are expected to help hold the ground and ensure criminals cannot return to the areas. The approach, the government says, is part of a wider strategy to restore calm, protect farmlands, and make rural communities safer.