Banditry: AbdulRazaq vows to crush killers as he convenes security council
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has vowed to crush banditry and kidnapping in the state, warning that criminals will find no hiding place in Kwara.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, in a statement on Wednesday, said AbdulRazaq gave the assurance on Tuesday night after presiding over a State Security Council meeting at the Government House, Ilorin.
The meeting followed Sunday’s deadly attack on Oke-Ode community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, where gunmen reportedly killed vigilantes and a traditional leader, leaving residents in fear.
AbdulRazaq disclosed that he had already briefed President Bola Tinubu on the security situation and renewed his request for additional federal deployment to flush out bandits in their hideouts.
He added that the Army Headquarters had relocated the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2nd Division to Ilorin as part of heightened operations.
“On Monday night, combined forces of the Army, DSS and Police launched an offensive around Baba Sango, along the Kwara–Kogi border, neutralising about 15 armed bandits,” the governor stated.
“The same operation continued on Tuesday. Yesterday night, I presided over the State Security Council meeting at Ahmadu Bello House, Ilorin, to integrate state and federal assets into a single strategy for both Kwara North and South.”
He assured residents that his government would continue to provide logistics and support for security agencies to protect lives and property.
“I have assurances of the security forces to smoke out and eliminate the criminals from their hideouts. We will fight insecurity with every resource at our disposal. Kwara will not be a hiding place for criminals,” AbdulRazaq said.
“To any criminal who seeks to destabilise the peace in Kwara, you may run, but you cannot escape justice. Kwara belongs to its people, and their peace will be defended.”
The governor’s remarks came just days after suspected bandits ambushed local vigilantes in Oke-Ode, killing scores and abducting some residents, in an attack that has heightened calls for tougher security measures.
