By Muyideen Aliyu, Ilorin
Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has said that nowhere in the State will be safe for criminal elements, including kidnappers, and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property of the people.
The Governor spoke after a security council meeting on Tuesday night, following the recent bandits’ attack at Oke Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area, where forestry guards and civilians were killed, among other casualties.
AbdulRazaq had briefed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the security situation in the State and the need for additional federal deployment of security personnel to raid the hideouts of the criminals.
“The Army Headquarters has since relocated the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2nd Division to Ilorin as part of the renewed efforts to strengthen security operations in the State,” he said.
“On Monday night, combined forces of the Army, DSS, and Police launched an offensive around Baba Sango, along the Kwara–Kogi border, neutralizing about 15 armed bandits. The same operation continued on Tuesday. And yesterday night, I presided over the State Security Council meeting at Ahmadu Bello House, Ilorin, to integrate state and federal assets into a single strategy for both Kwara North and South,” he said.
He assured Kwara residents that the administration would not relent in supporting security agencies to keep every community safe and vowed that the State Government would continue to put the necessary machinery in place to guarantee the safety of all residents, irrespective of their locations.
“I have assurances from the security forces to smoke out and eliminate the criminals from their hideouts. We will fight insecurity with every resource at our disposal,” AbdulRazaq added.
“Kwara will not be a hiding place for criminals. To any criminal who seeks to destabilize our peace, you may run, but you cannot escape justice. The State belongs to its people, and their peace will be defended,” the Governor noted.
