Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Tuesday received 23 kidnap victims rescued by Nigerian Army troops, declaring that kidnappers and other criminals “have no place in Kwara State.”
The victims, who had spent several weeks in captivity, were officially handed over to the governor at the 22 Armoured Brigade headquarters in Sobi, Ilorin.During the brief ceremony, AbdulRazaq expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Armed Forces and President Bola Tinubu for their continued support in the fight against insecurity, commending their efforts to rid the state’s forests of bandits and kidnappers.
“We thank God for your freedom and the relentless work of our security forces. We also appreciate the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Tinubu, and the Nigerian Army for this success,” the governor said through his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye.
He assured the victims of government support for their recovery and warned criminals to stay away from Kwara. “These criminals must either leave or perish here. Kwara remains a state of harmony,” he declared.
The governor praised the General Officer Commanding and the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume, for intensifying operations that have restored calm in previously affected areas. He also revealed plans to deploy forest guards once the Army completes its current clean-up operations to allow displaced farmers to return to their farmlands.
According to AbdulRazaq, “The GOC has been here for two weeks, and we’ve seen real progress — several criminals have been arrested or neutralised, and peace is returning to Kwara.”In response, Brig. Gen. Rume thanked the governor for his unwavering support, vowing to sustain military pressure until all kidnappers are eradicated. “Our mandate is clear — it’s either the bandits leave or they die here,” he said.One of the rescued victims, Pastor Obafemi, recounted his ordeal as “traumatic,” expressing gratitude to the government and the Army for their intervention.“It was a painful experience being held captive. I thank the Governor and the troops for rescuing us. May God continue to strengthen them,” he said.
Kwara, once known for its peace, has in recent times experienced a rise in kidnappings and bandit attacks, particularly in Ifelodun, Edu, and Patigi Local Government Areas. Security forces, led by the Nigerian Army, have launched coordinated operations to dismantle criminal networks suspected to have entered the state from neighbouring Niger and Kogi.
Governor AbdulRazaq reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting security agencies with logistics, intelligence, and welfare to ensure the state remains safe for residents and investors.
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