The Kwara State Elders Caucus of the All Progressive Congress( APC) and the Jagunmolu of Igbominaland, Alh AbdulRaheem Oladimeji, have sought the cooperation of the people for Kwara state government and the security agencies in their efforts to ward off criminals from the troubled north and southern axis of the state.
The APC Elders Caucus and the Jagunmolu made the appeal in separate statements, where they equally acknowledged and hailed the strides of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the security agencies at routing out the criminals terrorising residents of Kwara north and south.
The APC Elders Caucus mourned the victims of violent attacks in parts of Kwara north and Kwara south senatorial districts.
The Forum commiserated with the families of the victims, particularly the people of Oke- Ode in Ifelodun Local Government Area over the recent attack by the Non-State actors which left 12 vigilantes dead.
It also sympathised with Governor AbdulRazaq on the unfortunate incidences of attacks on the innocent people in the two districts,
In a statement signed by its chairman, Barr. Kunle Sulyman and secretary, Hon. AbdulMumini Katibi, the Forum acknowledged and hailed the measures the governor has put in place to ward off criminals from the State.
The Forum listed the governor’s strides at warding off criminals from the State to include the recruitment of about 2,700 Forest Guards, support for vigilantes and enrolling them in the State Health Insurance Scheme; consultations with relevant stakeholders and collaboration with the office of the national security adviser, amongst others.
For his part, the Jagunmolu and Asiwaju of Igbomina land, Alh AbdulRaheem Oladimeji, expressed optimism that the rising insecurity in parts of the state would not overwhelm the state.
He identified the issue of banditry and kidnapping for ransom as a phase, which was designed by unscrupulous elements to destabilize Kwara.
Oladimeji, who is the founder of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, urged the residents of the affected communities not to lose hope in the ability of the government and security agencies to tame the roughnecks and restore peace to their communities.
He described the terror campaign as an unconventional warfare that requires tactics and wisdom on the part of the military to tackle, pointing out that the attackers often cowardly withdraw to their shells after visiting attacks on their victims.
He cautioned those who are out to profit from the ruins of the affected communities by making mockery of the situation with reckless comments to steer clear.
Oladimeji also warned against scaremongering being created over the security challenge but urged residents to be vigilant and make useful information available to security agencies on any strange movements in their communities.
“Let us be wary of scaremongers, who have made it their daily habit to create imaginary fear as a result of which people are thrown into panic mode. That there is security breach has not been denied.
However, we need to be careful and circumspect on the information unauthorised individuals circulate on the issue of insecurity,” he said.
Oladimeji appealed for calm, unity, security consciousness and commended the government over its intervention on security challenges bedeviling local communities.
He praised the gallantry of military personnel and other security operatives, calling for words of encouragement among the people to boost the morale of the armed personnel.
Oladimeji sympathised with the families of those who lost their loved ones in the recent tragedy and called for additional deployment of security personnel to the troubled areas for restoration of permanent peace.
“We need to pray for peace and justice to return to Igbomina land, Kwara and the entire country so that we can overcome our moment of trial and tribulation. Our people should take it as a matter of duty to report strange movements to the security agencies and constituted authorities,” Oladimeji added.
