A former member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Mashood Bakare, has urged the Federal Government to urgently investigate claims that the Kwara State Government supplied arms and ammunition to bandits terrorising parts of the state.
Bakare appealed on Sunday in Ilorin while speaking with Punch, following the circulation of a viral video in which suspected bandits, allegedly arrested by Nigerian soldiers, claimed they were sponsored by the state government.
The one‑minute, 36‑second video spotted online on Saturday shows soldiers interrogating a group of suspected bandits found patrolling with AK‑47 rifles in a vehicle marked with the inscription of Ifelodun Local Government Area.
In the footage, the suspects lie face down with their hands tied as soldiers question them about their activities and the origin of the recovered weapons.
One suspect, speaking in Hausa and Nigerian Pidgin, alleged that the patrol vehicle and rifles were provided by the “Ilorin government.”
“We have been here for quite a while. We are using the vehicle for patrol. Wallahi, na the truth I dey tell you.
“Ilorin government na him give us this motor and the weapons. They were the ones that gave us the rifles,” the suspect said
He further claimed that the weapons were collected by their superior, identified as “oga Victor,” and alleged they had gone on several patrols alongside security operatives.
Reacting to the claims, Bakare described the allegations as disturbing, emphasising that the state government is constitutionally responsible for the protection of lives and property.
“It is very disturbing to hear that criminals, when arrested, are alleging that the state government is aware of or involved in their activities,” he said.
Bakare lamented the worsening security situation in Ifelodun Local Government Area, noting that frequent bandit attacks have forced residents to abandon farming and displaced entire communities.
“Almost half of Ifelodun has experienced bandit attacks. People can no longer go to their farms, communities have been deserted, and residents now live in fear,” he said.
Describing the claims as weighty, the former lawmaker called for a transparent investigation and publication of findings.
“These are serious allegations that must be properly investigated, and the findings should be made public,” he added.
Bakare also urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and credible information to curb insecurity in the area.
Government Dismisses Claims As ‘Sheer Disinformation’
However, responding on a WhatsApp platform, Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, dismissed the allegations as “sheer disinformation.”
According to Ajakaye, the suspects were arrested in Auchi, Edo State, not in Ifelodun, Kwara State.
“Anyone who understands Hausa will see that the fellows said they got weapons from Abuja. How is Abuja synonymous with Kwara?” he said.
He added that Ifelodun Local Government had already issued clarification on the patrol vehicle seen in the video.
Ajakaye also linked the security challenges in Kwara to wider regional instability.
He said, “We are facing a serious security threat, partly a blowback from the crisis in the Sahel. Our former advantage of thickly forested landmass has become a major enabler of this crisis, which is spilling over from neighbouring Kogi, Niger and Benin Republic.
“Solution lies not in maligning one another; it lies in seeing our collective enemies and uniting to end the evil.”
Ifelodun LG Confirms Security Van Deployment
Also reacting, the Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area, Femi Yusuf, confirmed the recovery of a security van earlier provided by the council as logistical support to vigilante operatives.
In a statement released on Sunday, Yusuf said the vehicle was recovered in Auchi, Edo State by personnel of the Nigerian Army.
“Ifelodun Local Government Authority has received with immense satisfaction the report of the successful recovery of a security van earlier provided by the council as logistical support to some vigilante operatives,” the statement read.
He explained that the vehicle was deployed to support coordinated security operations to curb the activities of criminal gangs in parts of the local government.
According to the chairman, efforts to retrieve the vehicle became difficult after the withdrawal of the vigilante operatives, prompting reports to security agencies.
Yusuf commended the Nigerian Army and other security institutions for their roles in the recovery and ongoing efforts to restore peace in the area.