The Kwara State Government has dismissed as false reports circulating on social media that the Nigerian Army arrested armed bandits in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state, describing the claims as deliberate misinformation aimed at causing panic.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Commissioner for Communications, Mrs. Bolanle Olukoju, the state government clarified that no security agency, including the Nigerian Army, has arrested any armed bandits in Ifelodun or any other part of Kwara State.
“The Nigerian Army did not arrest any armed bandits in Ifelodun Local Government Area or anywhere in Kwara State,” the statement said, urging members of the public to disregard the viral claims.
The government explained that it had reviewed a short video in circulation in which some suspects claimed to be in possession of a vehicle allegedly given to them by an ‘Ilorin government’ and weapons supposedly sourced from Abuja. However, it stressed that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were not arrested in Kwara State.
“Available information indicates that the suspects were reportedly arrested in Auchi, Edo State. Further investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident,” Olukoju added.
The government also debunked insinuations suggesting official involvement in the arming of the suspects, noting that no state government has the authority to issue firearms such as AK-47 rifles to individuals.
“Importantly, the suspects did not state that the Kwara State Government gave them any weapons,” the statement clarified.
Addressing claims surrounding a security vehicle mentioned in the video, the government said the Ifelodun Local Government Authority had earlier provided a vehicle to vigilantes deployed to complement security efforts in the area. According to the statement, those vigilantes have since exited Ifelodun, and the local government had previously raised concerns that the vehicle was not returned.
The state government called for stronger inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing, and cooperation among security agencies to effectively tackle banditry and other violent crimes.
It also cautioned bloggers, online platforms, and the general public against spreading unverified or distorted information, warning that such actions could endanger lives and threaten public peace.
“As investigations continue, we urge all stakeholders to exercise restraint and avoid misrepresentation of facts, as misinformation poses a serious risk to public safety,” the statement concluded.
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