ILORIN, Nigeria – A political firestorm has erupted in Kwara State following the emergence of an interrogation video in which captured suspects claim their weapons and operational vehicle were supplied by government officials.
The Interrogation Tape
In the footage, which began circulating as of late April 2026, suspects are seen under military guard with several AK-47 rifles laid out before them. One of the men, identified as a member of a local gang, explicitly tells the camera that their equipment came directly from “Ilorin government officials.”
“Ilorin government gave us this motor and the weapons,” the suspect claimed, pointing to a patrol van emblazoned with the name of Ifelodun Local Government Area. He further alleged that the rifles were handed over to their leader, a man he identified only as “Oga Victor.”
Government Response: “Stolen and Misused”
The Kwara State Government has moved quickly to dismiss the video as a targeted smear campaign. In an official statement, the administration clarified that the vehicle in question was originally assigned to a community vigilante group to assist in rural patrols. They claim the vehicle was not returned after the vigilante group was disbanded and was subsequently reported stolen.
Officials also argued that the suspects were apprehended in Edo State, not Kwara, suggesting the claims were a desperate attempt by the criminals to implicate the state government and distract from their own activities.
A State Under Siege
The scandal coincides with a terrifying spike in violence across Kwara. Just this week, the traditional ruler of Olayinka community, Oba Salman Olatunji Aweda, was snatched by gunmen alongside his wife. Reports from the Ifelodun axis also confirm the daylight abduction of a family of three and an overnight raid that saw 15 other residents taken into the bush.
Local opposition leaders have seized on the video, calling for an independent federal probe. They point to the “Lakurawa” factor—a new militant group reportedly gaining ground in the region—and argue that the government must account for every weapon and vehicle assigned to its security volunteers.
The Fallout
As of April 27, 2026, the video continues to fuel a deep sense of betrayal among citizens. For many, the sight of a government-branded vehicle in the hands of suspects has overshadowed the state’s official denials, raising uncomfortable questions about who exactly is arming the men terrorizing the Nigerian interior.
