According to The Punch reporting, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama Local Government Area in Kwara State following a brutal attack that left over 160 residents dead. The new military command will spearhead “Operation Savannah Shield,” a targeted offensive designed to track down the gunmen who targeted innocent villagers in what the President described as a “cowardly and beastly” campaign of terror.
The security crisis was also covered by Daily Post and Tribune Online, which provided updates on the humanitarian response. Daily Post confirmed that “relief materials are already being moved to the affected communities,” while Tribune Online quoted Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq saying, “We will not rest until the perpetrators of this massacre are brought to justice.”
The U.S. government has reportedly condemned the killings and expressed support for the Nigerian government’s security deployment. Security experts remain concerned about the vulnerability of border communities in Kwara and have called for permanent military outposts in the region to prevent future incursions by bandits.
Echotitbits take: The rapid deployment of “Operation Savannah Shield” shows a proactive stance, but the 10-hour delay reported by locals before troops arrived indicates a massive gap in early-warning systems. The focus must shift from reactive deployment to proactive intelligence gathering.
Source: Channels TV – https://www.channelstv.com/2026/02/05/kwara-attack-tinubu-orders-deployment-of-troops-condemns-incident/, February 6, 2026
In a report by Punch, police in Kwara said they received and released six vigilante members earlier arrested by the Army, amid tensions over community security efforts around the Auchi–Ikpeshi road axis.
The case highlights a recurring friction point: informal security groups often fill protection gaps, but can be viewed by formal forces as unauthorized or prone to abuse—triggering clampdowns and community backlash.
Punch’s account suggests the police framed the release as procedural, but the underlying pressure remains as communities seek quick protection amid insecurity.
Expect the debate to expand: who supervises vigilantes, what rules govern their operations, and how communities support security without creating parallel armed structures.
Daily Post also reported police “freed six vigilantes arrested by Army,” while Radio Nigeria similarly carried the update that police “free six vigilante members arrested by Army.”
Echotitbits take: Vigilante frameworks need clarity—registration, training, reporting lines, and accountability. Otherwise, every incident becomes a turf war and criminals exploit the confusion. Watch for states formalising community policing units with enforceable oversight.
Source: Punch – https://punchng.com/banditry-police-free-six-vigilantes-arrested-by-army/ January 7, 2026
Punch January 7, 2026
Reporting by The Punch indicates that the governments of Kebbi and Kwara states have ordered the reopening of several public schools that were previously shut down due to banditry threats. The decision follows a ‘successful security review’ and the deployment of the ‘Safe Schools Initiative’ guards in vulnerable border communities. Parents have been urged to return their children to classes as the new academic term begins.
In Kebbi, where students were recently abducted from a federal college, the government has built new perimeter fences and installed solar-powered CCTV cameras in several boarding schools. In Kwara, the reopening is focused on the northern districts where ‘bandit incursions’ from neighboring states had caused a temporary halt in educational activities late last year.
Further reporting from Channels TV and Daily Post validates the resumption. Channels TV reported that ‘local vigilantes have been integrated into the school security architecture,’ while Daily Post quoted a Kebbi educator: ‘The children have lost too much time; we are happy to have them back.’
Echotitbits take: Reopening schools is a major ‘psychological victory’ against bandits. However, ‘perimeter fences’ are only as good as the response team that monitors them. The real test will be whether the government can sustain the funding for these security guards beyond the first few months of the term.
Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/kwara-directs-school-to-reopen-monday/ January 5, 2026
In an update published by The Punch, suspended Kwara State House of Assembly member Saba Gideon has filed a formal challenge against the ‘illegal’ freezing of his salaries and allowances. Gideon, who was suspended following a protocol dispute with the House leadership, argues that withholding his pay is a violation of his constituents’ rights and an extra-judicial punishment that exceeds the House’s disciplinary powers.
The House of Assembly, however, defended its decision, citing a breach of internal protocol and ‘unparliamentary conduct.’ The case has drawn national attention to the power of state house speakers to ‘financially starve’ opposing members. Gideon’s legal team is seeking an immediate court injunction to restore his benefits, arguing that a suspension from sitting does not equal a termination of employment.
Further reporting from Daily Post and Leadership tracks the legislative standoff. Daily Post reported that ‘constituents in Gideon’s district have staged protests,’ while Leadership quoted a parliamentary expert: ‘Suspending a lawmaker’s pay is a grey legal area that the courts need to clarify once and for all.’
Echotitbits take: This is a classic ‘political bullying’ tactic seen in many state assemblies. By cutting off a lawmaker’s pay, the leadership effectively disables their ability to fund constituency projects or legal defenses. The court’s ruling on this will be a landmark for legislative independence in Nigeria.
Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/suspended-kwara-lawmaker-denies-secret-recording-slams-three-month-ban/ January 5, 2026
According to The Guardian, kidnappers who abducted the Oniwo of Aafin, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun, along with his son and other villagers, have demanded a ransom of N450 million. the traditional ruler was taken from his community in Kwara State during a late-night raid that has left the local population in a state of panic.
The abduction highlights the persistent ‘Kidnap Terror’ that has returned to parts of the North-Central and North-West regions. Security forces have reportedly been deployed to the area, but no rescue has been affected as of Saturday morning.
Vanguard described the situation in its special report, noting that ‘from Abuja to North, communities live in fear again’ as abduction cases spike in the new year. The Cable also tracked the incident, adding that the Kwara State government is currently in emergency talks with traditional rulers to bolster local vigilante groups.
Echotitbits take: Targeting traditional rulers is a deliberate tactic to break community morale. The high ransom demand suggests that kidnapping has remained a ‘profitable’ enterprise despite the government’s efforts to track financial flows through the NIN-SIM linkage.
Source: The Guardian — https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/kidnappers-demand-n450m-to-release-kwara-monarch-son-others/
2026-01-02 09:00:00
Reporting by Vanguard indicates gunmen attacked a palace in Kwara State and kidnapped a traditional ruler along with his son, who was described as an NYSC member.
Accounts of the incident suggest the attackers targeted the palace directly, overwhelmed limited security presence and escaped with the victims as residents raised alarm.
Security sources say efforts are ongoing to track the kidnappers, as the abduction adds to the pressure on North-Central communities battling recurring kidnapping incidents.
Validation: Punch reported the abduction of the monarch and his son after a “violent” palace attack. Premium Times cited a source describing the assault and reported the monarch’s wife was injured, quoting: “She was hit in the arm by a bullet.”
Echotitbits take: Targeted palace abductions signal confidence and intelligence by criminal networks. Watch for early proof-of-life communications, coordinated search operations, and whether state authorities deploy intelligence-led raids rather than reactive checkpoints.
Reporting by The Nation indicates the Kwara State House of Assembly has passed a harmonised taxes and levies bill aimed at streamlining revenue collection and reducing multiple taxation across the state.
Lawmakers said the legislation is designed to clarify approved charges, cut leakages, and improve compliance for businesses and residents, with next steps focused on transmitting a clean copy for executive assent.
The move aligns with broader sub‑national efforts to expand internally generated revenue while keeping the tax environment predictable for investors.
New Telegraph reported the assembly “passes harmonised taxes, levies bill into law,” while Western Post also said lawmakers “pass Harmonised Taxes and Levies Bill into law.”
Echotitbits take: Harmonisation only works if enforcement is disciplined—no parallel ‘task forces’ or informal collectors. Watch implementation rules, dispute‑resolution mechanisms, and how the state balances revenue goals with SME survival in 2026.
Source: The Nation — December 31, 2025 (https://thenationonlineng.net/kwara-assembly-passes-harmonised-taxes-levies-bill-into-law/)
Disclosing this on Tuesday, Kwara State Government in a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the couple underwent COVID-19 test after they showed slight symptoms of the virus.
The statement said: “The results of their test are positive. The second couple are very stable and in high spirit, and are now undergoing standard management protocols supervised by the government’s medical team.
“Immediate contact tracing and tests, among other safety protocols, are being done for persons who have met with the couple in the past few days.”
It would be recalled that Chief of Staff to Kwara State Governor, Aminu Adisa, had died of COVID-19 last month, thereby throwing the state into mourning.
National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has described the death of the first lawyer in Northern Nigeria, AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho AbdulRasaq a.k.a AGF, as the end of an important era in this country.
He described late lawyer as a nationalist in its true definition and a pan-Nigerian in all its adoring flavours.
Late AbdulRazaq, the father of Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulrRasaq, died in the early hours of Saturday in Abuja.
He passed away less than four months to his 93rd birthday.
He was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire and also served as the first Kwara State Commissioner for Finance after the state was created in 1967.
Late AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho AbdulRasaq a.k.a AGF.
Tinubu, in an emotional condolence statement he personally signed, said: “The passing at 93 of the iconic patriot and elder statesman, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdulrasaq, popularly known as AGF, signifies the end of another era in the annals of this country.”
According to him, “The likes of AGF were the proverbial hewers of wood and drawers of water who laboured hard for the strong foundation upon which our dear country was erected.
“He was there in the thick of all the nationalistic struggles and negotiations during the transition from colonial era to an independent Nigeria.
“A nationalist in its true definition and a pan-Nigerian in all its adoring flavours, Papa Abdulrasaq did a lot for this country. He was an educationist who founded the first privately-owned secondary school, Ilorin College in Ilorin, now known as Ilorin Government High School, in the old Ilorin Province.
“He was an active player during the nascent post-independence period of the 1960’s, helping to stitch together the multi-interest and diverse expectations of the peoples of this country.
“AGF gave his very best to our country as a top legal practitioner, indeed the first lawyer to emerge from the Northern part of Nigeria, who also rose to become the Chairman, Council of Body of Benchers.
“He was also many more in his unparalleled service to the country: a technocrat whose era as President, Nigeria Stock Exchange, helped to bolster the competitiveness of our stock exchange sector; a politician who was the first National Legal Adviser of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC); Minister of State for Railway; a diplomat who was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cote D’viore (Ivory Coast), and a foremost community leader, the Mutawalli of Ilorin Emirate and Tafida of Zaazau (Zaria).
“The departure of the highly revered AGF, the father of Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, has left a huge vacuum in our national life.
“I commiserate with Governor Abdlurasaq, I mourn with his brother, Alhaji Alimi Abdulrasaq, and their other siblings. My condolences also to Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, and the good people of Ilorin and Kwara State over the demise of their most illustrious son.
“I hope and pray that Munificent Allah grant them the strength and fortitude only He can provide in order to live after Papa’s passing. May Almighty Allah also reward Papa of his good deeds, forgive his shortcoming and admit him to Aljanna Firdaus.”
Similarly, former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has described the death of Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdul-razaq, Mutawalli of Ilorin as a loss of one of the statesmen produced by Kwara State.
Saraki in a statement released in Abuja noted that the late senior advocate who died at the age of 93 had lived a good life and contributed his own quota to the development of Kwara State and Nigeria in general.
“The late AGF as he was fondly called by people who knew him will be sorely missed and I believe he did his best in the service of our people in Kwara State and Nigeria as a lawyer, politician, diplomat and President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange”, Saraki noted.
Saraki who is the Waziri of Ilorin commiserated with Dr. Alimi Abdulrazaq and his siblings, the entire family of the deceased, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the entire Ilorin Emirate and the people of Kwara State. He also prayed that Almighty Allah forgive the sins of the late Abdulrazaq and grant him a place in Aljannah Firdaus.
Announcing the death of his father on Saturday, a former Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Alimi AbdulRasaq, said: “With total submission to the will of the Almighty Allah, the AbdulRazaqs of Ilorin Emirate of Kwara State hereby announce the passing of their patriarch and statesman Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdul-Razaq SAN (OFR) at the age of 93 in Abuja. He was born in 1927.
”The Mutawali of Ilorin and Tafida of Zazzau (Zaria), who was Chairman of the Nigerian Body of Benchers, died peacefully at about 2am on Saturday July 25th, 2020 (the 4th day of Dhul-Hijjah 1441 AH.)
“The first lawyer from the Northern Region is survived by his 90-year-old wife, Alhaja Raliat AbdulRazaq, illustrious children, including incumbent Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and grandchildren.
”Arrangement for his interment will be announced by the family shortly.”
By Idowu Sowunmi &Tobiloba Kolawole
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