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The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has unequivocally vowed that security forces will reclaim all communities in Kwara State currently under the grip or threat of bandits and other criminal elements.
The IGP made this firm declaration during a high-level security review meeting held in Ilorin on Monday, where he engaged with top police officials, other security agency heads, and community leaders to assess the ongoing situation and strategize enhanced responses to banditry in the state.
IGP Disu emphasized that no criminal group will be allowed to displace law-abiding citizens from their ancestral homes and lands. “We are the owners of these towns and communities. Criminals cannot chase us out. It is our land, and we will not at any time relinquish it to them. We must take back our homes and our communities,” the IGP declared passionately.
The Inspector-General noted the recent surge in bandit activities, including kidnappings, cattle rustling, and attacks on vulnerable rural settlements in parts of Kwara State, particularly in border and forested areas.
He stressed that such acts of terror will no longer be tolerated, and that the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with sister security agencies, is intensifying kinetic and intelligence-led operations to flush out bandits, dismantle their camps, and restore full peace and normalcy.
Key commitments outlined by the IGP include:
Sustained deployment of tactical teams, specialized units, and enhanced intelligence assets to affected local government areas.
Strengthened community-police partnerships to improve early warning systems and rapid response capabilities.
Aggressive manhunts for identified bandit kingpins, sponsors, and accomplices, with a view to bringing them to justice.
Continued support for affected communities through protective measures and humanitarian assistance where necessary.
IGP Disu called on residents of Kwara State to remain vigilant, cooperate fully with security agencies by providing timely and credible information, and resist any form of intimidation or coercion by criminal groups. He assured that the police leadership remains fully committed to protecting lives, property, and the constitutional rights of all Nigerians.
The Inspector-General reiterated that reclaiming every inch of Nigerian territory from bandits and terrorists is a non-negotiable priority of the Nigeria Police Force under his leadership.