By Olokuta Rofiat
The Nigerian Army Headquarters has directed the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2nd Division, Ibadan, to immediately relocate to Kwara State to lead operations against armed groups following a wave of deadly attacks that claimed the lives of at least 12 forest guards and several residents.
The order comes amid heightened concerns over insecurity in parts of Kwara South and Kwara North, where gunmen reportedly ambushed forest guards and community members, leaving others injured or abducted.
Local hunters and guards were said to have repelled the attackers, killing several in the process.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Rafiu Ajakaye, condemned the killings as “shocking and painful.”
He commended the bravery of the hunters and forest guards who resisted the assailants, urging residents to remain calm and avoid reprisals that could fuel communal conflict.
The governor also called for increased security deployments to restore peace.
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki, however, criticized the state government for allegedly downplaying the scale of the crisis.
He accused authorities of suppressing casualty figures and demanded a more transparent account of the security situation.
According to the Army, the GOC’s relocation is aimed at ensuring swift coordination of counter-insurgency operations and reassuring residents of the government’s resolve to safeguard lives and property.
