The Kwara State Government has dismissed as false and misleading reports circulating on social media alleging that armed bandits arrested in Ifelodun Local Government Area were linked to the state government.

The government’s clarification followed a viral video in which some suspects claimed they were supplied with arms and a vehicle by the state authorities.

In a statement on Sunday, the Commissioner for Communications, Mrs Bola Olukoju, said no armed bandit was arrested by the Nigerian Army or any other security agency in Ifelodun or anywhere else in Kwara State.

“Kwara State Government wishes to clarify that the Nigerian Army did not arrest any armed bandit in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state, contrary to the disinformation spreading on social media platforms,” the statement said.

According to Olukoju, the government reviewed the video in circulation, where the suspects alleged possession of a vehicle purportedly provided by the “kwara Government” and weapons said to have come “from Abuja.”

She, however, noted that the suspects were not arrested in Kwara State, adding that no security agency had reported such arrests within the state.

“They were reportedly arrested in Auchi, Edo State. Further details are awaited for clarity,” she said.

The commissioner stressed that no state government has the authority to arm individuals with AK-47 rifles, adding that the suspects did not specifically claim in the video that the Kwara State Government supplied them with any weapons.

Providing further explanation, the statement said the Ifelodun Local Government Authority confirmed that the security vehicle mentioned in the video was initially provided to vigilantes deployed in the area to support local security efforts.

It added that the vigilantes have since left Ifelodun, while the local government had repeatedly complained that the vehicle was not returned.

While investigations into the matter continue, the Kwara State Government called for stronger inter-agency collaboration and improved intelligence sharing among security agencies to effectively combat banditry and other violent crimes.