Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has presented cheques worth ₦80 million to families of forest guards and vigilante members who recently lost their lives during encounters with kidnappers in Babanla, Oke Ode, and Eleyin areas of Ifelodun and Isin Local Government Areas of the state.
The governor also announced a ₦100 million support package for the families of brave men from Edu and Patigi who were killed in an ambush by kidnappers in July while responding to abductions in their communities.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony in Ilorin at the weekend, Governor AbdulRazaq commiserated with the bereaved families, describing the fallen men as heroes who paid the ultimate price in service to their state and country.
“We pray for the souls of the deceased. It was an unfortunate incident. They died in active service. Government cannot but sympathise with the families,” the Governor said.
“We will continue to support them and ensure that the state remains safe. As you can see, the military has moved in with full force, and we will keep supporting them and other security agencies to chase the criminals out of the state.”
The event was attended by several government officials and political leaders, including the Chairman, Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Alhaji Abdullateef Gidado Alakawa; the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Alhaji Muyideen Aliyu; and the Chairmen of Ifelodun, Ilorin West, and Asa LGAs — Alhaji Femi Yusuf, Mallam Shehu AbdulRahaman Ladan, and Alhaji Shehu Yahaya, respectively.
In their goodwill messages, Alakawa and Yusuf commended the Governor’s compassionate gesture, noting that it would greatly ease the burden on the affected families. They also lauded his administration’s consistent support for security personnel and community vigilantes across the state.
Meanwhile, the government has provided new logistics support, including fighting equipment and motorcycles, to strengthen the capacity of forest guards and community vigilantes operating in the identified flashpoints.
The new support, according to government officials, is aimed at boosting the morale and operational efficiency of the local security outfits as they complement the efforts of conventional security agencies in safeguarding lives and property.
