By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
Barely 48 hours after Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq mourned the death of three military personnel who died while fighting
bandits in Kwara, five Forest Guard members have also been killed at another location.
Earlier in the week, the governor had visited the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) where three military survivors in a combat with bandits in Pategi that claimed lives of their three colleagues were being treated to express his grief.
At the hospital, he announced a donation of of N20 million apiece to the families of the three slain soldiers as well as N5mollion to each to three survivors receiving treatments in the hospital.
Also, Governor AbdulRazaq appealed to the Nigerian civil populace to stop giving out information military troops’ leading to series of ambushes and killing of patriotic soldiers who on red lines were fighting to protect citizens.
He had at the occasion told newsmen that bandits were able to lay ambush for troops in Pategi based on intelligence they received from some members of the public who act as informants leading to the death of three and three others seriously wounded.
Sadly enough, Alhaji Bashir Adigun, Special Adviser to the governor on Media announced the death of five forest guards trying to repel a attack on their position in Nuku community of Kaiama Local Government Area by the northern flank of the state on Friday.
Adigun however said the Governor commends the bravery and patriotism, og the troop of the Forest Guards which saw them fiercely neutralising dozens of the terrorists during the unfortunate incident.
He said the incident again underscored the threats that the terrorists pose to the local communities in the State and urged the military high command to tweak their strategies in the fight against the bad faith actors.
According to him, the governor had said; “he commend the efforts of the security agencies in this theatre and urges them to do more.”
“Nothing can truly compensate for the ultimate sacrifice that the fallen guards have made on our behalf. Our sincere condolences go to the families and communities of the forest guards. They will forever remain our heroes.
“We are, nevertheless, committed to supporting their families. I pray that Almighty God repose their beautiful souls and give us victory over these terrorists” the governor repeatedly said.
Meanwhile, Governor AbdulRazaq had constituted the Kwara State Security Strategy Committee comprising Kwara-born retired military generals and top security officers.
The committee consists of retired Major General GA Wahab (chairman); Maj. Gen. Yemi Abidoye; Maj-Gen. Abubakar Ndalolo; Rear Admiral Aliyu Lawal; Air Commodore ASA Buhari; AIG Aderemi Opadokun; and Lt. Col. WA Lawal.
Permanent Secretary (General Services) Shuaib Abdulganiyu (fcia) was made to serve as the Secretary of the Committee.