Hon. Mashood Bakare, a former member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, called on the police and the federal government to investigate allegations that state government officials supplied a patrol vehicle and weapons to individuals suspected of being bandits operating in the state. Bakare made this demand following a video that circulated widely on social media on Saturday. The footage showed Nigerian Army personnel questioning alleged bandits who were reportedly patrolling the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State using a local government security vehicle and armed with AK-47 rifles. In the video, the suspects were seen on the ground with their hands bound while soldiers interrogated them regarding their activities, weapons, and the vehicle’s origin. One suspect, speaking in Hausa and Nigerian Pidgin, claimed that the government provided both the rifles and the patrol vehicle. He alleged that they conducted operations in the area under the guise of security patrols and that their superior, named “Victor,” collected the weapons, further claiming that many people were involved. The suspect stated that they had been in the area for a long time, using the vehicle for patrol, and insisted he was telling the truth, asserting that the “Ilorin government” supplied them with both the vehicle and the rifles. Responding to the situation, Bakare described the accusations as serious and deeply troubling. He expressed worry that a government responsible for protecting citizens was being implicated in alleged criminal activities. The former lawmaker, who represented Omupo Constituency from 2011 to 2019, commented that the increase in insecurity in the Ifelodun local government area was highly unusual for Kwara State and demanded a comprehensive and unbiased investigation to ascertain the facts. Bakare also urged residents to remain alert and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information, emphasizing that community collaboration is vital for addressing insecurity and preventing criminals from establishing safe havens. He advised that everyone must unite, be vigilant, support security agencies, refrain from sheltering criminals, and promptly pass on useful information to law enforcement. Meanwhile, the Ifelodun Local Government Council denied any wrongdoing and commended the Nigerian Army for recovering the security vehicle. In a statement released in Ilorin, the council chairman, Alhaji Femi Yusuf, confirmed that the van was recovered in Auchi, Edo State, through the efforts of the council and security agencies. He clarified that the vehicle was initially provided as logistical support for vigilante operatives intended to help reduce criminal activities in parts of the Ifelodun Local Government Area. Yusuf explained that after the vigilante operatives were withdrawn, attempts to get the vehicle back were unsuccessful, prompting the council to report the issue to security authorities. The council praised the Nigerian Army’s professionalism and reaffirmed its dedication to collaborating with security agencies to maintain peace and safety throughout the local government area and the entirety of Kwara State.
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