Kwara government denies claims of sponsoring bandits after viral video
A controversy has erupted in Kwara State following allegations by suspected bandits that the state government supplied them with weapons. Mashood Bakare, a former lawmaker, called for an urgent investigation into the claims on June 2, 2025. The state government, through Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s spokesperson, dismissed the allegations as false and misleading. The debate has reignited concerns over insecurity in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
What we know
- Suspected bandits, arrested by the military, claimed in a viral video that the “Ilorin government” provided them with weapons and a patrol vehicle.
- Mashood Bakare urged the Federal Government to investigate the allegations on June 2, 2025, describing them as serious and disturbing.
- The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Rafiu Ajakaye, rejected the claims, stating the suspects actually said they got weapons from Abuja, not Kwara.
- The Ifelodun Local Government chairman confirmed a security van provided to vigilantes was recovered in Auchi, Edo State, by the Nigerian Army.
- The incident has heightened concerns about repeated bandit attacks and insecurity in Ifelodun, with calls for unity and transparent investigations.
