An Unverified Two-Minute Video Shouldn’t Convince Any Rational Kwaran That the Governor Armed Bandits

An opinion piece by public affairs commentator Bisi Kristien has dismissed claims that Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq armed bandits, describing the allegation as a hasty and illogical conclusion drawn from an unverified two-minute video clip circulating on social media.The article, written against the backdrop of the arrest of security operatives travelling in an Ifelodun security van in Edo State, argues that no rational observer should indict a sitting governor on the basis of unauthenticated footage and isolated remarks without proper investigation.

Kristien notes that a critical examination of the video should naturally raise several questions, including how the vehicle came into the possession of the individuals involved, where the arrest occurred, the nature of the alleged offence, and the institutional authority under which the operatives were acting. According to the author, these questions were largely ignored by those promoting the narrative that the governor procured arms for bandits.

Providing clarification, the article recalls official explanations that the Ifelodun security vehicle was released to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as part of a federal security intervention to address banditry and insecurity in Kwara State. The individuals seen in the video were reportedly apprehended in Edo State while in transit and were accused of unlawful possession of firearms.

The author further cites the ONSA’s clarification that the operatives involved were members of its vigilante support structure, armed and deployed under federal authority to assist in security operations. Kristien stresses that the National Security Adviser represents the President on security matters and operates independently of state governments, noting that the ONSA neither reports to nor takes instructions from the Kwara State Government.

The article also criticises what it describes as politically motivated attempts by opposition-aligned platforms to exploit the incident to discredit the governor, urging Kwarans to distinguish between verified facts and propaganda.

Kristien concludes that it is both illogical and unreasonable to suggest that a governor deeply rooted in the state would sponsor violence against his own people. According to the author, such claims can only be sustained by political actors seeking advantage, and should be rejected outright by any fair-minded and rational Kwaran.