The Kwara State Government has responded to public outrage sparked by a viral video showing armed men being questioned by soldiers, a scene that many Nigerians initially interpreted as the arrest of bandits operating within the state. The footage triggered intense criticism, widespread fear, and renewed calls for the declaration of a state of emergency in Kwara.
Clarifying the situation, state officials said the men seen in the video were not bandits captured in Kwara, but individuals involved in a federally coordinated security operation. The explanation has, however, ignited fresh debate over the growing reliance on armed non-state actors in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency and internal security strategies.
Speaking during a programme on Informant247, Ibrahim Abdulateef, Senior Special Assistant on Communication to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, confirmed that the men were members of Miyetti Allah who had been integrated into a Joint Task Force (JTF). According to him, this arrangement followed the deadly attacks of September 29 in Ifelodun Local Government Area, which left several communities shaken.
Abdulateef explained that the state’s security architecture involves a mix of conventional security agencies and locally coordinated forces. “Under our security setup, there are recognised officers as well as a Joint Task Force that includes members of Miyetti Allah and local vigilante groups,” he said. He added that the collaboration was part of efforts to strengthen intelligence gathering and community-based security responses in vulnerable areas.
The controversy intensified after the government acknowledged that a patrol vehicle had been provided through the local government chairman to support the operation. According to Abdulateef, the vehicle was meant to enhance mobility and effectiveness of the security team. However, he disclosed that after completing their assignment, the men allegedly fled with the patrol van.
“They were not arrested as bandits in Kwara,” Abdulateef stated. “They absconded with the patrol vehicle and were later apprehended by soldiers in Auchi, Edo State, not within Kwara.”
Further clarification came from the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, who addressed confusion surrounding the identity of an official mentioned in the suspects’ confession. Contrary to speculation, Ajakaye said the individual identified as “Victor” is a police sergeant attached to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), not an officer of the Department of State Services or the Nigerian Air Force.
Ajakaye also revealed that both the vigilante operatives and the police officer involved had since exited Kwara State, in line with the wishes of the affected local communities. He said the government respected that decision, noting the sensitivity of community perceptions in security matters.
Warning against inflammatory narratives, Ajakaye urged the media and the public to exercise restraint when reporting on security-related issues. He described the situation as a “secrecy dilemma,” where transparency must be carefully balanced with the need to protect ongoing national security operations.
In an emotional message shared via WhatsApp, Ajakaye reflected on the broader security crisis facing the country. “We are going through a very difficult phase of national security emergency. The pain of losing our brothers and sisters, and of living in constant fear, cannot be quantified. Losing one life is tragic—losing many is devastating,” he said.
He appealed for calm and responsible leadership, particularly from political elites and community influencers. According to him, moments of crisis demand wisdom and patriotism, not reckless statements that could inflame tensions. “True statesmen are revealed in times of hardship, not comfort. Those entrusted with guiding the people must act with tact and a deep sense of national responsibility,” he added.
Concluding his remarks, the CPS offered prayers for peace and unity, urging Nigerians to avoid hasty accusations. “May God guide us, restore peace to our land, expose evildoers and their collaborators, and make our country stronger and more prosperous. This is a time for careful leadership, not sensational claims.”
The government’s confirmation that members of Miyetti Allah were involved in armed security operations comes against the backdrop of earlier reports about resistance from Kwara residents and some Fulani leaders. These groups had reportedly opposed an alleged plan by the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, to arm Fulani herders, particularly Bororo migrants, with AK-47 rifles to combat banditry.
Critics, including local Fulani stakeholders, had warned that arming non-state actors could deepen insecurity rather than resolve it, pointing to the failure of similar initiatives in the past and the volatile nature of migrant herder movements.
It is worth noting that both the Kwara State Government and Miyetti Allah had previously denied any formal arrangement involving the arming of herders or collaboration with criminal groups. The latest revelations have therefore reopened an already sensitive national conversation about community-based security, accountability, and the risks inherent in outsourcing armed enforcement beyond conventional state institutions.
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