The Kwara State Government has denied reports circulating on social media that the Nigerian Army arrested armed bandits in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state, describing the claims as false and misleading.
The clarification followed a viral video in which some
suspects, purportedly arrested in Ifelodun alleged that they were supplied with
arms and a vehicle by the state government.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Commissioner for
Communications, Mrs Bola Olukoju, the government said no armed bandit was
arrested by the Army or any other security agency in Ifelodun or any part of
Kwara State.
“Kwara State Government wishes to clarify that the Nigerian
Army did not arrest any armed bandit in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the
State contrary to the disinformation
spreading on social media platforms,” the statement said.
According to the commissioner, the government had reviewed
the video in circulation, in which the suspects claimed to be in possession of
a vehicle allegedly provided by the “Ilorin Government” and weapons obtained
“from Abuja.”
However, she noted that the suspects were not arrested in
Kwara State. “No security agency, including the Army, ever reported such
arrests in Kwara.
They were reportedly arrested in Auchi, Edo State. Further
details are awaited for more clarity,” the statement added.
The government also stressed that no state government has
the authority to arm individuals with AK-47 rifles, adding that the suspects
did not state in the video that the Kwara State Government gave them any
weapons.
Providing further clarification, the statement said the
Ifelodun Local Government Authority confirmed that the security van referenced
in the video was originally provided to vigilantes deployed in the area to
complement security efforts.
The vigilantes, it said, have since left Ifelodun, while the
local government had repeatedly complained that the vehicle was not returned.
While investigations into the matter are ongoing, the state
government called for improved inter-agency collaboration and intelligence
sharing among security agencies to effectively tackle banditry and other
violent crimes.
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