The Nigerian Army Headquarters has directed the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2 Division, based in Ibadan, to immediately relocate to Kwara State to enhance military operations and strengthen the response to escalating insecurity in parts of the state.
According to Nigerian Tribune, the directive was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Kwara State Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye.
The move comes in the wake of a deadly attack in Oke, Ifelodun Local Government Area, where suspected bandits reportedly killed no fewer than five forest guards and local hunters in the early hours of Sunday.
Advertisement
READ MORE : Abuja–Kaduna Train Service To Resume Next Week After Repairs, Says NRC
It was gathered that members of the local vigilance group engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle and neutralised an unspecified number of the bandits during the confrontation.
Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of the hunters and forest guards. He urged residents to remain calm and resist any temptation to retaliate or turn on one another.
“We will forever be grateful to all of them as our heroes,” the governor stated, describing the slain defenders as brave patriots who stood up to protect their communities.
Abdulrazaq called for increased deployment of military personnel to Kwara to counter the growing threats posed by criminal elements in parts of Kwara South and Kwara North senatorial districts.
In his statement following the attack on forest guard positions and surrounding areas in Oke Ode, the governor emphasised the urgent need for more security reinforcements to dislodge criminal gangs operating in the state.
He lamented the tragic loss of lives, praising the courage of the fallen forest guards who confronted the assailants despite the risks involved.
“My heartfelt condolences go to the families. No word can adequately capture the depth of my sadness, and nothing can compensate the bereaved families for these incidents, in spite of our efforts and the investments in enlisting and training the forest guards to bolster the conventional forces,” the governor said.
“Our people are understandably concerned about the situation, and I wholeheartedly share in this grief,” he added.
While commending the ongoing efforts and sacrifices of the security agencies, Abdulrazaq stressed that more still needed to be done to restore lasting peace to the affected areas.
“While we appreciate the efforts and unquantifiable sacrifices of the security forces as well as the successes so far, we definitely need to do a lot more until we are completely out of the woods,” he noted.
The attack has heightened concerns about the security situation in Kwara, as local authorities and residents call for swift and decisive military action to protect vulnerable communities.
