Major Security Breakthrough in Kwara State
Security forces in Kwara State have achieved a significant breakthrough in their fight against banditry with the arrest of a weapons specialist from Benue State and numerous suppliers who provided essential materials to criminal elements operating in the region.
The arrests came following last Tuesday's brutal attack on church worshippers in the Eruku area of Ekiti Local Government, which prompted intensified security operations across the state.
Key Arrests and Confessions
The Nigeria Police Force and Department of State Security Service (DSS) apprehended a man from Makurdi, Benue State, who confessed to fixing weapons for bandits operating within Kwara State. Additionally, security operatives captured multiple suspects linked to supplying food, drugs, and general sustenance to bandits in their hideouts.
Commissioner of Police Adekimi Ojo revealed these developments to journalists at the state police command headquarters, detailing outcomes from the recent State Security Council meeting held at Government House in Ilorin.
The police chief emphasized that the security council "harvested insights from security commanders on recent happenings and field intelligence" following the Eruku incident, including ongoing efforts to track down perpetrators and rescue victims.
Enhanced Security Measures
The Security Council meeting commended recent security deployments, particularly praising air interdiction operations that have successfully dislodged kidnappers from their former hideouts in Ifelodun and other areas. The council called for continuous air bombardment of identified criminal hideouts to maintain pressure on the bandits.
Commissioner Ojo specifically acknowledged Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun for deploying four tactical teams to neutralize threats in Kwara. These teams include Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Special Intervention Squad (SIS), and Special Tactical Squads (STS).
As the Yuletide season approaches, the meeting approved joint patrols of security forces across different parts of the state and recommended heightened security measures around vulnerable locations.
Social Media Concerns and Public Safety
The Security Council expressed serious concerns about the damaging impacts of social media on Nigeria's fight against insurgency, particularly regarding how security information is disseminated. The council noted that ransom demands and amplification of sensitive information often expose citizens to greater danger.
For public safety, the council called for caution in exercising freedom of expression and urged citizens to:
- Avoid night farming and social activities that could expose them to harm
- Promptly report suspicious movements to security agencies, government authorities, and traditional rulers
- Remain vigilant and support security efforts
The meeting concluded with a minute of silence for victims of the Eruku Christ Apostolic Church attack and extended condolences to their families and the larger community.
The coordinated security operations represent a determined effort by multiple agencies to dismantle the support networks that enable banditry to persist in Kwara State and surrounding regions.
