Kwara debunks claims of army arresting bandits in Ifelodun

The Kwara State Government has rejected claims circulating online that soldiers arrested armed bandits in Ifelodun Local Government Area, warning that the reports are misleading and capable of inciting unnecessary fear among residents.

In a statement released on Sunday night, the Commissioner for Communications, Mrs Bolanle Olukoju, said the viral claims were entirely false, stressing that no security agency, including the Nigerian Army, carried out such an operation anywhere in the state.

“The Nigerian Army did not arrest any armed bandits in any part of Ifelodun. No security agency ever reported such arrests in Kwara,” Olukoju said.

She explained that the clarification followed the circulation of a short social media video in which some arrested persons allegedly claimed they possessed a vehicle supplied by the “Ilorin Government” and weapons supposedly sourced “from Abuja”.

According to the commissioner, preliminary investigations showed that the suspects were not apprehended within Kwara State.

“They were reportedly arrested in Auchi, Edo State. While the content of the video and the circumstances surrounding the suspects are still being investigated, it is important to clarify that they were not arrested in Ifelodun or anywhere in Kwara,” she said.

Olukoju also dismissed suggestions that the state government armed the suspects, noting that state governments lack the legal authority to distribute military-grade weapons.

“Indeed, no state government has the authority to arm anyone with an AK-47. At no point did the individuals in the video state that the Kwara State Government gave them any weapon,” she added.

She further clarified that the vehicle mentioned in the video belonged to Ifelodun Local Government and had earlier been assigned to vigilantes to support local security efforts.

“The vigilantes have since left Ifelodun, but the local government repeatedly complained to the relevant authorities that its vehicle was not returned to its pool,” Olukoju said.

The commissioner called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, emphasising that cooperation and intelligence sharing were critical to tackling banditry and violent crime.

“To win the war against banditry, we need enhanced inter-agency coordination, intelligence sharing and cooperation among security agencies,” she said.

The state government also cautioned bloggers and online platforms against spreading unverified reports, warning that misinformation could undermine public safety.

“We urge the public and media platforms to avoid biased assimilation or misrepresentation of information, as such actions pose an existential threat to human life and public peace,” the statement added.