𝐊𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐚, 𝐞𝐱-𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

A former member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Mashood Bakare, has called on the Federal Government to investigate allegations that the Kwara State Government supplied arms and logistics to suspected bandits operating in parts of the state.

Bakare made the call on Sunday in Ilorin while reacting to claims by suspected bandits arrested by the military, who allegedly said they were sponsored by the state government.

The allegations followed the circulation of a viral video showing soldiers interrogating a group of suspected bandits allegedly intercepted while patrolling with AK-47 rifles in a local government security vehicle bearing the inscription of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

In the one-minute, 36-second video, the suspects were seen lying face down with their hands tied as soldiers questioned them about their activities and the source of the weapons recovered.

One of the suspects, speaking in Hausa and Pidgin English, claimed that the patrol vehicle and rifles were provided by what he described as the “Ilorin government,” alleging that they operated under the guise of a security patrol.

“We have been here for quite a while. We are using the vehicle for patrol. Wallahi, na the truth I dey tell you,” the suspect said.

The suspect further alleged that the weapons were handed over by their superior, identified as “Oga Victor,” adding that they had gone on several patrols alongside security operatives who were allegedly involved.

Reacting to the development, Bakare described the allegations as disturbing and urged the Federal Government to conduct an urgent and transparent investigation to ascertain the truth.

He said the government has a constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property, stressing that any involvement of state actors in criminal activities would be a serious breach of public trust if established.

However, the Kwara State Government dismissed the claims.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Rafiu Ajakaye, described the allegations as “sheer disinformation,” insisting that the suspects did not accuse the state government of supplying the weapons.

“Anyone who understands Hausa will clearly hear that the suspects said they got the weapons from Abuja,” Ajakaye said. “How is Abuja synonymous with Kwara?”

He maintained that the state government has no link to banditry and accused those circulating the allegations of deliberately misrepresenting the content of the video to mislead the public.