Following last Tuesday’s bandit assault on church members in the Eruku community of Ekiti Local Government Area, Kwara State, security operatives have apprehended a man from Makurdi, Benue State, accused of repairing firearms for bandits operating within the state.
Authorities also arrested several individuals suspected of delivering food, drugs, and essential supplies to bandits hiding in remote camps.
The Commissioner of Police (CP), Adekimi Ojo, revealed this during a briefing with journalists at the state police command, following the earlier State Security Council meeting held at Government House, Ilorin.
The police boss noted that the Security Council expressed concern over the harmful role of social media in the nation’s counter-insurgency efforts, especially regarding the circulation of sensitive security reports.
He added that the council praised the Military, Police, and Department of State Security Service (DSS) for their latest deployments across the state, which he said were carried out in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directives.
Ojo praised the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, who recently dispatched four specialised tactical teams—Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Special Intervention Squad (SIS), and Special Tactical Squads (STS)—to tackle further threats in Kwara.
Ojo reported that the council meeting “harvested insights from the security commanders on recent happenings and field intelligence in the aftermath of the Eruku incident, including efforts of the security agencies to track down the perpetrators and rescue the victims.”
Security Council reviews deployments, intelligence updates
The meeting also commended heightened security deployments, especially air interdictions, which have dislodged the kidnappers from their former hideouts, especially in Ifelodun. It calls for continuous air bombardment of areas identified as criminal hideouts.
“The Police and DSS reported several arrests of food and fuel suppliers linked to the criminals as well as a man from Makurdi who confessed to fixing weapons for the kidnappers.”
“The meeting commended the government’s strategic security decision on schools in parts of the state.
“As security agencies work for safe returns of the girls, the council calls for continuous vigilance and early reporting of any suspicious movement in any parts of the state,” he stated.
Ojo added that “the meeting approved joint patrols of security forces in different parts of the state especially as the Yuletide approaches. It recommended heightened security measures around vulnerable spots.
“The meeting observed the damaging impacts of social media in the country’s fight against violent non-state actors.
It expresses concern with how security information is disseminated, including demand for ransom and amplification of information that exposes citizens to more danger. For public safety, it calls for caution in the exercise of freedom of expression.
“The meeting urged citizens to avoid night farming and social activities that expose them to any harm. It urged citizens for prompt report of suspicious movements of any kind to the security agencies, government agencies, and traditional rulers.”
“The meeting observed a minute of silence for the victims of the Eruku CAC attack and again commiserated with their families and the larger community,” he stressed.
It is recalled that the Security Council meeting discusses different security developments within the state and its borders.
