- Soldiers intercepted armed suspects in Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State.
- Suspects alleged the Kwara State government supplied rifles and patrol vehicle.
- Confession was captured during on-camera interrogation by troops.
- Kwara government and Nigerian Army are yet to issue official statements.
Nigerian soldiers have arrested a group of suspected bandits after intercepting them with AK-47 rifles inside a local security patrol vehicle in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
In a video that has since gone viral, the suspects were seen lying face-down on the ground with their hands tied as soldiers questioned them about their mission and the source of the weapons in their possession.
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One of the suspects, who spoke in Hausa mixed with Nigerian Pidgin, claimed that both the rifles and the vehicle were provided by the Kwara State government. According to him, they had been operating openly in the area under the cover of routine patrol duties.
“We have been here for a long time. We dey use the vehicle for patrol. Wallahi, na the truth I dey tell you,” the suspect said.
He further insisted that the weapons were not personally owned by the group, stating that their superior, whom he referred to as “our oga” was responsible for collecting the rifles.
“Ilorin government na him give us this motor and the weapons. We are not the ones that collected them; na our oga collect am. I was there when it happened. Oga Victor and others were involved,” he added.
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Throughout the interrogation, the suspect repeatedly swore by God that the rifles did not belong to them. Other detainees, also restrained, could be heard chanting religious phrases as questioning continued.
As of the time of this report, the Kwara State government has not responded to the allegations. The Nigerian Army has also not released an official statement confirming the claims or explaining the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
The incident has reignited public debate over long-standing accusations that some political actors may be sponsoring criminal groups. In the past, similar allegations were made against Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, claims he has consistently denied.
