Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has reassured stakeholders in the Lafiagi axis of Kwara North of his administration’s firm commitment to rid the region of criminal gangs terrorising local communities.
Governor AbdulRazaq gave the assurance in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, during a crucial security briefing with leaders of the Lafiagi Descendants’ Development Union (LADDU), led by Dr. Abdullahi Jibril Mohammed Lafiagi.
Acknowledging the security concerns of residents in Edu and Ifelodun Local Government Areas, the Governor said the state government has been working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Army to launch joint security operations that will permanently flush out violent criminal elements from forested hideouts in Kwara North and South.
According to a statement by Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the operations will involve newly trained forest guards alongside the army to secure isolated areas notorious for harbouring criminal gangs.
“These operations will rout the criminals from their hideouts and restore lasting calm in the affected areas, while measures will be taken to prevent the violent elements from relocating to other parts of the state,” the statement read.
The Governor stressed that security matters demand careful and realistic analysis, robust planning, and coordinated execution to achieve lasting results.
“No one can dismiss the worries of our community folks. However, sensitive security issues require meticulous planning and collaboration for sustainable success,” Governor AbdulRazaq said.
The intensified security operations target specific settlements in Ifelodun, Edu, and Patigi Local Government Areas, which have been identified as operational bases for criminal gangs involved in banditry and other violent crimes.
The deployment of forest guards and military personnel aligns with the Kwara State Government’s broader goal to boost rural safety, safeguard farmlands, and ensure peaceful communities across the state.
