The Kwara State Government has refuted claims by Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, that several local government areas in the state are currently under siege by armed bandits.
Commissioner for Communications, Mrs Bolanle Olukoju, described Obi’s statement as “baseless and misleading,” insisting that the state remains largely peaceful and that no part of it is controlled by criminal elements.
According to her, while the government acknowledges isolated cases of insecurity in some border communities, the situation has never escalated to the level portrayed by the former presidential candidate.
“There is no local government under siege in Kwara State. What we have are occasional incidents that the security agencies are already addressing.
“The narrative being pushed by some opposition figures is nothing short of a deliberate attempt to create panic,” Olukoju said in a statement issued yesterday.
She further accused certain political actors of exploiting social media to distort facts about security developments in the state, saying such behaviour only aids fear-mongering and undermines the efforts of security agencies.
“Those who spread this kind of disinformation are no better than the bandits themselves because they instil fear and chaos in society,” she added.
The government also expressed disappointment over Obi’s involvement in amplifying what it called “fabricated security reports,” urging him to withdraw from the post and verify facts before making public statements.
“We hold Mr Peter Obi in high regard as a statesman, but lending credibility to falsehood through his social media platforms is unbecoming. We urge him to take down the misleading post,” the statement read.
Obi had earlier claimed that nine of the state’s 16 local government areas, including Baruten, Edu, Ekiti, Ifelodun, Isin, Kaiama, Oke-Ero, Patigi, and Irepodun, were allegedly under bandit control, with the criminals reportedly demanding food and drinks as ransom.
Describing the situation as a national emergency, the Labour Party flagbearer lamented the country’s worsening insecurity, saying, “It is troubling that Nigerians now die daily in their own country more than in places officially at war.”
However, the Kwara State Government maintained that the assertion was untrue and exaggerated, reaffirming that the state remains safe for residents and visitors.
Meanwhile, security analysts have also weighed in, saying that while sporadic attacks have occurred in some rural parts of Kwara, there is no evidence of widespread control by bandit groups.
Olukoju assured citizens that the government, in collaboration with security agencies, is “working tirelessly to ensure that peace and safety continue to prevail across all local councils in the state.”