PDP Alleges Complicity Between Kwara Govt Officials and Bandits, Urges FG to Investigate

 

The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday raised alarm over what it described as disturbing allegations linking the Kwara State Government to criminal banditry, following the circulation of a video showing arrested suspects accusing government officials of supplying arms and logistics.

Addressing a press conference at the PDP State Secretariat, Pipeline Road, Ilorin, the party’s State Chairman, Hon. Isa Bawa Adamu represented by state secretary Mr AbdulRahman Abdullah Kayode, said the allegations, if proven, amount to a grave national security concern that places Kwara State in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

According to the PDP, the controversy stems from a widely circulated video in which suspected bandits, arrested by the Nigerian Army in Auchi, Edo State, allegedly claimed that officials of the Kwara State Government supplied them with AK-47 rifles and a government-branded operational vehicle used for criminal activities.

In the video, the suspects, while being interrogated by security operatives, were heard alleging that the weapons and vehicle originated from the “Ilorin government,” claiming they were used for patrol operations. The suspects also mentioned the involvement of an individual identified as “Oga Victor.”

The PDP said the allegations raise serious questions for the Kwara State Government and place a heavy burden of explanation on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, whom the party described as constitutionally responsible for the security of the state.

The opposition party noted that the suspects did not claim to have stolen or purchased the weapons from the black market, but rather repeatedly alleged that the arms and vehicle were supplied by government officials.

It questioned how a government-customised patrol vehicle reportedly assigned to a local government council could end up in the hands of bandits operating outside the state.

The PDP further linked the allegations to the worsening security situation in Kwara State, particularly in parts of Kwara North and Kwara South, citing persistent cases of killings, kidnappings, and attacks on communities.

The party referenced findings by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), which reportedly indicated that between January and November 2025, hundreds of people were killed or abducted across several local government areas in the state, including Ifelodun, Patigi, Edu, Ekiti, Isin, and Irepodun

Specific incidents cited included attacks in Patigi, Eruku, Babanla, Isapa, Agbeku, and the September 28 massacre in Oke-Ode, where villagers alleged that local vigilantes were disarmed shortly before a deadly bandit attack.

The PDP noted that the name “Oga Victor,” mentioned in that incident, was the same name allegedly cited by suspects in the Edo confession video.

The party demanded immediate public clarification from Governor AbdulRazaq on the identity and role of “Oga Victor,” the alleged release of arms to non-state actors, and the movement of government vehicles outside their designated jurisdictions.

Calling the allegations “too grave to ignore,” the PDP urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to treat the situation as a matter of urgent national concern and order a comprehensive federal investigation into the claims.

The party further called for what it described as decisive measures, including an independent and transparent probe, arguing that public confidence in the state’s security architecture has been severely eroded.

In addition, the PDP urged security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, to immediately retrieve and audit all patrol vehicles allocated to local government councils in the state to determine whether any are in the possession of criminal elements.

The party also challenged the media to intensify investigative reporting on the matter, insisting that families and communities affected by insecurity deserve answers.

While acknowledging the hardship faced by residents of the state, the PDP said Kwara people should not be subjected to what it termed “state-sponsored killings,” calling for accountability, justice, and urgent action to restore safety and public trust.