Kwara State Government has strongly refuted the claims made by the former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, alleging that bandits have taken control of nine out of the sixteen local government areas in the state.
The controversy began after Obi, in a statement shared via his official X handle over the weekend, raised alarm about the worsening security situation across the country. In his post, he specifically mentioned that several local government areas in Kwara State were now under the control of criminal elements, sparking widespread concern and reactions online.
In response, the Kwara State Government issued a detailed statement on Monday through the Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, firmly dismissing Obi’s claims as both “reckless and totally false.” Olukoju described the allegations as misleading and damaging, accusing the former governor of Anambra State of spreading misinformation that could incite unnecessary fear among citizens.
According to the Commissioner, the government found Obi’s statement not only untrue but also highly irresponsible, given his status as a prominent national figure. She stressed that such false claims could create panic and disrupt the peace that the people of Kwara State currently enjoy.
The official statement read: “We wish to alert the public to some reckless claims that nine local government areas of Kwara State are under siege by bandits. This is totally false. No local government area is under siege in the state. The unfortunate challenges we have had in a few isolated areas do not justify the wicked exaggeration and misinformation being circulated by opposition elements.”
Olukoju went on to allege that certain political actors and online agitators were deliberately amplifying fake news to discredit the state government and create the illusion of widespread insecurity. She added that these individuals act as the “digital allies of bandits,” helping to spread fear and confusion among citizens.
“We have reasonable grounds to suspect that these elements are the online promoters and equivalents of bandits, as they help to instill fear in the populace through fake news such as the unfounded claim of nine LGAs being under siege and reports of gunmen movement in parts of Asa LGA,” the statement continued.
The Commissioner also called on Mr. Peter Obi to take responsibility for his words and delete the post from his social media platforms. “We regretfully observe that Mr. Peter Obi has lent his social media handles to spreading such fake news. This is not expected from him as a statesman. We request Mr. Peter Obi to bring down the post as it is totally false and inappropriate,” she said.
Furthermore, the government urged the public to always verify news and reports before sharing them, emphasizing that misinformation could heighten tensions and complicate the efforts of security agencies working to maintain order.
“We also urge members of the public to avoid sharing unverified information, which may cause panic, confusion, and psychological trauma to the people. This irresponsible behaviour is making things harder for the security agencies who already have enough challenges to deal with,” the statement concluded.
The Kwara State Government reiterated its commitment to ensuring peace and security across all local government areas, assuring citizens that the situation in the state remains stable and under control despite attempts by political figures to suggest otherwise.