Gov AbdulRazaq Blames Saraki For Rising Killings In Kwara
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has blamed former Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the worsening insecurity in the state, linking the current wave of killings and kidnappings to the 2018 Offa bank robbery that claimed 33 lives.
Speaking to journalists in Oke-Ode on Thursday, the Governor said Saraki should take responsibility for the robbery, which he alleged was carried out by the former Senate President’s loyalists.
“It was under PDP. Bukola Saraki himself said he is the leader of PDP in Kwara. Under his leadership, 33 people were killed in one day,” AbdulRazaq said.
He further claimed that the robbers “went with Aso Ebi from Saraki’s wedding and vehicles bearing number plates marked ‘Saraki’.”
The Governor made the remarks in reaction to criticisms from the PDP following its recent congress in Ilorin, saying the opposition lacked the moral right to question his administration’s competence on security.
“Thank God the culprits have now been sentenced to death. Saraki himself is in court because families of the Offa victims have taken him to court. PDP should go and answer that case before talking about security in Kwara,” AbdulRazaq added.
The statement has stirred controversy across the state, with many residents accusing the Governor of using the Offa robbery tragedy to deflect attention from his administration’s failure to tackle insecurity.
Reports show that bandit attacks have intensified across parts of Kwara, with Oke-Ode, Patigi, Essanti, and Marri communities experiencing deadly raids and mass displacement of residents.
In September 2024, a Kwara State High Court sentenced five men — Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, and Adeola Abraham — to death by hanging over their roles in the Offa robbery.
Justice Haleema Salman convicted them on charges of illegal possession of firearms, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and culpable homicide, ruling that “the five of you shall be hanged by the neck until you are dead.”
Meanwhile, the Governor has also faced backlash after his aide, Olayinka Fafoluyi, was caught sharing old photos of military airstrikes in Borno, falsely presenting them as recent operations in Kwara.
Residents have described the act as “insensitive,” citing continued killings and abductions, including the murder of vigilantes and the Baale of Ogbayo in Oke-Ode.
From Oke-Ode to Patigi, villagers continue to flee as bandits launch fresh attacks, leaving several dead and many others missing.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
