The Kwara State Government has refuted circulating reports on social media claiming that the Nigerian Army recently arrested armed bandits in Ifelodun Local Government Area, describing the claims as false and misleading.
In a statement released late Sunday in Ilorin, Mrs. Bolanle Olukoju, the Commissioner for Communications, clarified that no security agency, including the Nigerian Army, had reported any such arrest within the state.
“First, the Nigerian Army did not arrest any armed bandits in any part of Ifelodun,” the commissioner emphasised.
The clarification followed the circulation of a viral video in which some individuals, purportedly under arrest, claimed they were operating with a vehicle allegedly provided by the “Ilorin Government” and armed with weapons said to have been sourced “from Abuja.”
Olukoju explained that government officials had reviewed the video and conducted preliminary checks, which indicate that the arrests did not occur in Kwara State but in Auchi, Edo State.
Further details are still awaited from the relevant security agencies.
“No security agency ever reported such arrests in Kwara. The individuals were reportedly arrested in Auchi, Edo State,” the statement noted.
The commissioner further stressed that no state government has the authority to supply AK-47 rifles or other weapons to civilians.
She added that, based on available evidence, the suspects did not explicitly claim that the Kwara State Government provided them with arms.
Regarding the vehicle seen in the video, Olukoju said that the Ifelodun Local Government Authority had previously clarified that the van in question was officially assigned to vigilante operatives supporting local security efforts.
She explained that the vigilantes had since withdrawn from the area, and the council had repeatedly raised concerns that the vehicle had not been returned following their exit.
The state government called on the public and media outlets to exercise caution and avoid spreading unverified information that could heighten tension or disrupt public peace.
“As security forces continue to investigate, we urge bloggers and online platforms to refrain from misrepresentation, as biased information poses an existential threat to human life and public order,” the statement warned.
The government also reiterated its commitment to enhancing coordination, intelligence sharing, and collaboration among security agencies to effectively combat banditry and violent crime across the state.
