Kwara Govt Debunks Social Media Claims of Bandit Arrests in Ifelodun

The Kwara State Government has dismissed as false and misleading reports circulating on social media claiming that the Nigerian Army arrested armed bandits in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, clarified that no such arrest took place in Ifelodun or any other part of Kwara State, stressing that no security agency, including the Nigerian Army, reported arresting armed bandits within the state.

The clarification follows the circulation of a short video online showing some suspects who claimed they were in possession of a vehicle allegedly provided by the “Ilorin Government” and weapons supposedly received “from Abuja.”

According to the state government, while the video and the surrounding circumstances are currently under investigation, available information indicates that the suspects were not arrested in Kwara State. Preliminary findings suggest the individuals were arrested in Auchi, Edo State, and further details are being awaited to establish the full facts.

The government also emphasized that no state government has the authority to arm individuals with AK-47 rifles, noting that at no point did the suspects claim that the Kwara State Government supplied them with any weapons.

Addressing concerns about the vehicle mentioned in the video, the Ifelodun Local Government Authority explained that the security van was officially provided to vigilantes earlier deployed in the area to complement existing security arrangements. The vigilantes have since exited Ifelodun, but the local government had repeatedly reported that the vehicle was not returned to its fleet.

The Kwara State Government called for stronger inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing, and cooperation among security agencies as critical steps toward winning the fight against banditry and other violent crimes.

It also cautioned members of the public, particularly online media platforms and bloggers, against spreading unverified information or engaging in misrepresentation, warning that such actions could endanger lives and threaten public peace.

The government assured residents that security agencies are thoroughly investigating the matter and urged citizens to remain calm and rely only on verified information from credible source