The Army Headquarters has directed the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division of the Nigerian Army in Ibadan, to immediately relocate to Kwara to further coordinate and boost military response to the security crisis ravaging the state.

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, said in a statement on Sunday that this followed an unfortunate attack on the positions of the forest guards and the surrounding areas of Oke Ode in the state.

He said the relocation came amid Mr Abdulrazaq’s call for increased security deployments to Kwara to rout the criminals involved in attacks in parts of the state. 

Mr Ajakaye said the governor regretted the loss of innocent civilians and the forest guards who mounted a spirited resistance to the assailants during the attack.

“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,” Mr Ajakaye quoted Mr Abdulrazaq as saying.

While acknowledging efforts and unquantifiable sacrifices of the security forces, as well as the successes so far, the governor stressed the need for intensified efforts to address the unfortunate crisis.

“Finally, I urge our brave residents to remain calm and avoid the temptation to turn on ourselves. I equally commend all the forest guards and the local hunters who, though they lost five of their compatriots, equally neutralised several of the attackers. We will forever be grateful to all of them as our heroes,” Mr Abdulrazaq added.

The development came after former Senate President Bukola Saraki accused Mr Abdulrazaq of suppressing figures and facts related to security issues in the state.

“The state government is living in denial; it is suppressing facts and figures and instead focusing on opposition. Do what you’re elected to do: secure the lives of the people. 

“No responsible government or party will play politics with security. As politicians, we must say the truth: this government has failed in providing security to the people,” the former Kwara governor lamented at the PDP Congress in Ilorin on Saturday.