Thousands of youths from the four local government areas of the Ilorin Emirate on Thursday staged a protest in Ilorin, condemning alleged attempts to politicise the 2018 Offa robbery incident and link former Senate President Bukola Saraki to the crime.
The protesters marched through major streets of Ilorin before converging on the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, warning that renewed narratives surrounding the robbery case could threaten the peace and unity of the Emirate.
Speaking during the protest, the group’s spokesperson, Abdulkadir Issa, described the development as a politically motivated campaign aimed at tarnishing the image of Saraki, the Waziri of Ilorin.
“If the politically motivated narratives on the Offa robbery incident are not withdrawn, it may affect the current peace and unity in the Ilorin Emirate,” he said.
Issa maintained that the youths were protesting in defence of truth, justice, and the dignity of the Emirate, not to incite unrest.
“Today, we stand together not as troublemakers or agents of division, but as conscious and responsible youths who believe in the dignity of our people,” he said.
According to him, the renewed public discourse on the Offa robbery case was not about justice but political propaganda targeted at Saraki.
“A tragedy that brought pain and tears to families in Offa is now being dragged back into public discourse not for justice or closure, but for political propaganda aimed at blackmailing one man,” he added.
The protesters argued that the case had already gone through legal processes, including investigations, prosecution, and judgments upheld on appeal, insisting that Saraki had no established link to the crime.
“Suspects were charged, trials were conducted, and judgments were delivered and upheld on appeal. So we ask: what exactly is being pursued now?” Issa queried.
The group also accused the state government of diverting attention from pressing governance and security challenges in the state.
“Today, insecurity remains a real concern in parts of Kwara State. Communities are under pressure, and families are worried. Yet, instead of focusing on these urgent realities, attention is being diverted to political issues,” he said.
The protesters warned against dragging traditional institutions into political controversies, arguing that such actions could diminish public respect for the Emirate.
“By dragging the revered office of the Waziri of Ilorin into this kind of allegation, the government has not only targeted an individual but has diminished the dignity of the Ilorin Emirate,” Issa stated.
They urged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to exercise restraint and focus on governance rather than political disputes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The protest comes amid rising political tension in Kwara State over renewed debates surrounding the April 5, 2018 Offa robbery attack, which claimed more than 30 lives, including police officers, during coordinated assaults on banks and a police station in the town.
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