The Kwara State government has dismissed insinuations that operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, disarmed vigilantes in Oke-Ode, a town in Ifelodun Local Government Area at any time.
Gunmen on Sunday reportedly killed 15 persons, among them vigilantes and abducted an unspecified number of people, with several others injured in the deadly incident.
In a viral video that trailed the attack, a lady who appeared distressed, was seen mourning her dead husband and his brother. She accused the DSS of disarming the town’s vigilantes prior to the attack, a move she claimed, gave the assailants undue firepower advantage.
However, the state government in a statement described the claim as false, saying at no time did the DSS disarm vigilantes in any part of the state.
“There is no truth to the claim that DSS withdrew weapons from the forest guards at any time. The leadership of the forest guards has disputed this claim,” Rafiu Ajakaye, who is Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, said in a statement on Tuesday.
Also Read: Kwara Governor calls for military reinforcement
The statement came on a day the DSS and troops of the Nigerian Army eliminated several terrorists on the border between Kwara and Kogi States. According to top security sources, notable among those killed was a terrorist kingpin Musa Iliasu, aka Maiwada and several foot soldiers.
Intelligence reports on Tuesday confirmed that Nigerian security forces are currently engaging armed bandits and terrorists in Okunran, Okoloke, and Isanlu Esa, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State bordering Kwara South District. Reports indicated that several terrorists were neutralized in the onslaught.
“This is not an isolated fight. The ripple effects are already being felt across the region.
“Communities such as Odo-Ere, Odo-Eri, Ejiba, Egbe, in Kogi state, Eruku, Osi, Obo-Ile, Oke Ode, in Kwara state and surrounding areas in Niger state must remain vigilant,” security sources hinted.
They also advised surrounding communities to watch out for strange movements, unfamiliar faces, and suspicious activities, prioritize safety and share verified information.
The Nigerian Army Headquarters recently redeployed the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division to Kwara state following the deadly attack on Ogba-Ayo community in Oke-Ode town of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State on Sunday.
The state government has expressed regret that security agencies in the state have “expressed strong reservations about the demoralising, albeit false, claim which was made in a viral video.
“We pray to God to console the bereaved woman— and every other one — but her claim is not true,” noted the statement, quickly adding, “this clarification does not in any way delegitimise her grief.
“Politicians do not miss opportunities to wrong-foot their opponents. Average citizens who are concerned about all of us getting out of this crisis stronger and better as a community should not join such chitchat. It is not worth it.
“News media (including Sahara Reporters) have used pictures from thousands of kilometres away to illustrate their stories…some have said we are in a state of war. It is their own way of saying it,” the state government added.
“We will get out of this stronger and safer,” assured the government, advising, “let us remain united and calm, and refuse to be at daggers-drawn with ourselves”, said the statement.
Crediblenewsng.com
