Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has urged the deployment of additional military forces following violent attacks in Oke-Ode.
Gatekeepers News reports that on Sunday, the Kwara police confirmed that 12 people, including a village head, were killed during an assault in Ifelodun Local Government Area. Several videos circulating online also show some residents with various injuries.
In a statement on Monday, Abdulrazaq emphasised the need for increased security presence to counter criminal activities affecting communities in both Kwara South and Kwara North.
The Governor noted that the attackers targeted forest guards and neighboring villages during the early hours.
He offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, including forest guards who he said demonstrated patriotism and dedication to their communities.
Abdulrazaq said, “My heartfelt condolences go to the families.”
“No word can adequately capture the depth of my sadness and nothing can compensate the bereaved families over these incidents, in spite of our efforts and the investments in enlisting and training the forest guards to bolster the conventional forces. Our people are understandably concerned about the situation, and I wholeheartedly share in this grief.”
Abdulrazaq acknowledged the sacrifices of security personnel but stressed that more must be done to protect residents. He also appealed to citizens to remain calm and avoid targeting one another.
The Governor praised the bravery of forest guards and local hunters in resisting the attackers, highlighting that five guards died while several assailants were neutralized.
Following the attacks, the Nigerian Army headquarters ordered the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division in Ibadan to move to Kwara to strengthen and coordinate military responses.
