Kwara Govt Cleared as NSA Owns Up to Arming Those Arrested in Ifelodun Security Vehicle
The hullabaloo following the arrest of some Miyetti Allah operatives with guns in an Ifelodun Security van by Nigerian Army officials, which some media outlets reported as the Kwara State Government arming bandits, has been proved to be merely unfounded and politically motivated noise-making by the unfolding truth.
The official confirmation by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) that the arms recovered from suspects arrested in that Ifelodun security vehicle were issued under a federally coordinated counter-terrorism operation corroborates Kwara State’s earlier position on the issue and clears the air.
In a statement issued by the Head of Strategic Communications at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), ONSA, Mr. Abu Michael, the Federal Government acknowledged that trained vigilante auxiliaries were armed as part of ongoing efforts to support conventional security forces in combating terrorism, banditry, and other criminal activities, particularly in difficult terrains.Mr. Michael explained that the deployment was carried out pursuant to Part III, Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, which empowers the NCTC—under the supervision of the National Security Adviser—to coordinate and support law enforcement, security, and intelligence agencies nationwide.
He was responding to recent media reports surrounding a Kwara State incident in which a rifle issued by the Office of the National Security Adviser was reportedly recovered. According to him, some of the reports were inaccurate and failed to reflect the operational realities of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy.
Clarifying the context, the NCTC spokesman noted that Nigeria’s National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) adopts a hybrid operational approach, involving the coordinated deployment of regular security forces alongside trained irregular auxiliaries such as hunters and vigilante elements, especially in forested and hard-to-access areas.
“This approach previously guided the engagement of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the North East, where trained civilian volunteers worked alongside the Armed Forces against Boko Haram,” he said. “The same strategy currently informs hybrid deployments in parts of the North West and North Central, and the situation in Kwara State is not different.”Mr. Michael stressed that the limited information available to the public was deliberate, owing to the sensitive nature of the operations and the need to avoid compromising security efforts or endangering personnel.“For the avoidance of doubt, all hybrid personnel are recruited directly by authorised security and intelligence agencies after due diligence. All operations are conducted strictly in accordance with the law and established standard operating procedures,” he said.
The NCTC spokesman urged the public to disregard unverified reports that misrepresent the conduct of counter-terrorism operations, while also calling on the media to act responsibly by protecting sensitive security information and seeking clarification through designated official spokespersons.
Earlier, some news outlets had suggested that this controversial development was due to the hasty release of a video clip to the media by the officers who recorded the arrest without proper investigation.The case, however, became more complicated as Kwara opposition politicians and media operatives deliberately escalated the falsehood to get at the governor for their politically destructive game.
The public admission by the NSA office to arming those arrested is therefore a welcome development as it not only vindicates the Governor but also shows that the effort was a move by the governor to involve the Federal Government in the fight against insecurity as demanded by the law and the people—the governor has no control over the vehicle, which has been released to the NSA office.
Zionia Joseph