Kwara govt offers clarifications on video linking officials to bandits

The Kwara State Government has denied reports circulating onsocial media that the Nigerian Army arrested armed bandits in Ifelodun LocalGovernment Area of the state, describing the claims as false and misleading. The clarification followed a viral video in which somesuspects, purportedly arrested in Ifelodun alleged that they were supplied witharms and a vehicle by the state government. In a statement issued on Sunday by the Commissioner forCommunications, Mrs Bola Olukoju, the government said no armed bandit wasarrested by the Army or any other security agency in Ifelodun or any part ofKwara State. “Kwara State Government wishes to clarify that the NigerianArmy did not arrest any armed bandit in Ifelodun Local Government Area of theState contrary to the disinformationspreading on social media platforms,” the statement said. According to the commissioner, the government had reviewedthe video in circulation, in which the suspects claimed to be in possession ofa vehicle allegedly provided by the “Ilorin Government” and weapons obtained“from Abuja.” However, she noted that the suspects were not arrested inKwara State. “No security agency, including the Army, ever reported sucharrests in Kwara. They were reportedly arrested in Auchi, Edo State. Furtherdetails are awaited for more clarity,” the statement added. The government also stressed that no state government hasthe authority to arm individuals with AK-47 rifles, adding that the suspectsdid not state in the video that the Kwara State Government gave them anyweapons. Providing further clarification, the statement said theIfelodun Local Government Authority confirmed that the security van referencedin the video was originally provided to vigilantes deployed in the area tocomplement security efforts. The vigilantes, it said, have since left Ifelodun, while thelocal government had repeatedly complained that the vehicle was not returned. While investigations into the matter are ongoing, the stategovernment called for improved inter-agency collaboration and intelligencesharing among security agencies to effectively tackle banditry and otherviolent crimes.

Read More