₦airaland Forum

Bandits Arrested By Army In Ifelodun Council Say They Got AK-47 Rifles From 'Kwara Government Officials'
December 13, 2025

Nigerian soldiers have arrested a group of suspected bandits found patrolling with AK-47 rifles in a local security patrol vehicle in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The suspects were intercepted by troops during an operation in the area and taken into custody.

In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the arrested men were seen prostrated on the ground with their hands tied as soldiers questioned them over their activities and the source of the arms in their possession.

During the interrogation, one of the suspects, speaking in Hausa and Nigerian Pidgin, claimed that the vehicle and rifles were provided by the Kwara State government.

He alleged that they had been operating in the area under the guise of patrol duties for some time.

“We have been here for quite a while. We are using the vehicle for patrol. Wallahi, na the truth I dey tell you,” the suspect said in the video.

“Ilorin government na him give us this motor and the weapons. They were the ones that gave us the rifles.”

The suspect further alleged that the arms were not personally collected by him but by their superior, whom he referred to as “our oga,” insisting that multiple individuals were involved.

“We are not the ones that collected the rifles; it was our oga that collected them. I know because I was with them. We go patrol many times with them, including oga Victor. All of them are involved. The weapons are theirs,” he claimed.

The suspect repeatedly insisted that the rifles did not belong to them, swearing by God that the weapons were not privately owned by the group.

In the video, other detainees, whose hands were tied, were heard repeatedly chanting religious phrases as the questioning continued.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kwara State government has not issued an official response to the allegations made by the suspects.

The Nigerian Army has also not released a formal statement detailing the circumstances of the arrest or confirming the claims.

SaharaReporters previously reported that three young men returning from their mother’s burial in Agboro, Kwara State, reportedly been kidnapped by suspected terrorists who are now demanding ₦10million per victim which makes a total of ₦30million.

The victims; Isanlu Bidemi (33), Olumide (30), and their 17-year-old cousin, Moses were abducted on Sunday, December 7, 2025, along the Odo-Ogbe axis of Yagba East Local Government Area.

They were reportedly heading back home when they ran into heavily armed men.

SaharaReporters earlier noted that a fourth traveler, identified as a Hausa man, was also taken by the gunmen.

A family source described the situation as a heartbreaking double tragedy, revealing that the victims had just buried their mother hours before the attack.

According to the source, the kidnappers initially demanded ₦10 million per person, excluding the fourth abductee.

When the grieving family managed to raise ₦3 million, the offer was rejected. Instead, the abductors allegedly intensified their threats and beatings of the captives.

The abductors have been using a single basic torchlight phone, the only phone the victims carried during the trip, to make repeated ransom calls, further tormenting the distressed families.

Residents of Yagba East and Yagba West have expressed shock and outrage over the incident, condemning it as yet another sign of worsening insecurity in the region.

Community members described the ordeal as a cruel assault on a family already in mourning.

SaharaReporters

The suspects were intercepted by troops during an operation in the area and taken into custody.

APC IS A TERRORISTS ORGANIZATION ..... CANADA

Governor, commissioners, house of assembly members, special advicers are the culprits 📌🔥💯

Gotocourt:
Governor, commissioners, house of assembly members, special advicers are the culprits 📌🔥💯

The army have their own bandits, government officials have their own and then aspiring political office holders have their own gangs too, all in a bid to making money. No wonder government of the day is unable to tackle them headlong.

From the little experience I've had in the streets, I can boldly tell you that successful gunrunners are either people in government or people that have close ties with people in government

When we said there are more to these kidnappings, killings and destruction. They called us names that our parents didn't call us. Olorun ku abinu.

Might be true, might be false.

They could have been coached on what to say if arrested.

Lies are a type of weapon

OLAADEGBU:
The suspects were intercepted by troops during an operation in the area and taken into custody.

I will not be surprised if their agbero president is part of it because anything can happen in this government.

Xscape1993:
I will not be surprised if their agbero president is part of it because anything can happen in this government.

Instead of you to direct your comment to kwara state govt, na Tinubu be your problem. For every crime committed any where in Nigeria, Tinubu is to be blamed abi? Do you even think if they apply the laws to the letter in Nigeria, you'll be free? Many of you call out the govt at every opportunity but majority of you are also not honest.

bandit
Overview
Similar and opposite words
Usage examples
Pronunciation
Dictionary
Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more
bandit
/ˈbandɪt/
noun
a robber or outlaw belonging to a gang and typically operating in an isolated or lawless area.
"the bandit produced a weapon and demanded money"
Similar:
robber
raider
mugger
brigand
freebooter
outlaw
desperado
hijacker
plunderer
pillager
looter
marauder
gangster
gunman
criminal
crook
thief
holdupper
rustler
highwayman
footpad
reaver
snaphance
cateran
mosstrooper
MILITARY SLANG
an enemy aircraft.

Did Kwara give it to them for Vigilante work?
Saraki had a similar issue with the Offa Armed Robbers

Kwara State is GONE.

E remain Oyo STATE and LAGOS.

Southern Unity is DEAD.

The Canadian government labeled APC a terrorist organization. So, I'm not surprised about this news .

APC is a terrorist organization.

Hmmm 🤔

Xscape1993:
I will not be surprised if their agbero president is part of it because anything can happen in this government.

Listening to "If you know you know." By Pusha T.

Some Lilliput will think this is made up but we know it is the truth. Nigerian politicians are sponsoring kidnappers and bandits who bring home the proceeds of the kidnapping for the politicians

The government and it's officials are making serious money from this bandit operations. It's either they're pumping money into their pockets in the name of Insecurity or collecting ransom from innocent citizen in the name of kidnapping. That's why they can't tackle insurgency head-on

This revelation might not be lies because we learnt that the Kwara State government recruited the Fulanis to provide security in some parts of the local government that's presently experiencing killings and kidnapping. When they say government is involved in this mess some people will call it lies

This is something we know for a very long.

APC Politicians are the one behind the insecurities in Nigeria.

Something is not clear, were they given the riffles as vigilante because the suspect said "we patrol with them ask Oga Victor"

Saraki wants to avenge the same style used to oust him out of power after the Offa Robbery incident.

Tell us what we don't already know

Then they should take the matter up as serious as a national threat, we have always maintained Govt is complicit in Banditry and terrorist operation

those dvmb low lives are not as super natural as Tinubu govt protray to us given all manner of cilly excuses terrorist use Turaya phone, Govt is complicit they engage those low lives and they are cashing out since they will be the ones to pay the money out discreetly

Late Abacha talk am say any banditry wey last past 24 hours, just know say govt hand dey am

richiemcgold:
From the little experience I've had in the streets, I can boldly tell you that successful gunrunners are either people in government or people that have close ties with people in government

Or people who have lost out of government

Watch how the allegations will die down and the affected citizens will go about their business like nothing happened.

This is disgraceful.

The best solution to the Nigerian security problem is regional autonomy.

We must try a new system where power is devolved to the regions and the central govt manages only administration that ensures cohesiveness of all the regions. This is what America does and remains the most powerful country of the world. Except that, in the case of America power is resident with the States.

Nigeria must try another system of government as the current one doesn't favour it. Take for example, imagine South- South region being able to establish its own security forces, generate revenue to enhance infrastructural development, establish it's anti corruption crusade to tackle pervasive corruption, establish its educational standards, and many more. This will guarantee regional competition and effectiveness. No fulani man can come into that region with the aim of mass murder or whatever. Each region with its civil and legal jurisprudence. That's the only path of progress for Nigeria.

Might be a cheap blackmail but I never trust a Fulani man with power .