The suspects claimed that they were sponsored by the ‘Ilorin government,’ a development that sparked public anger and renewed fears over insecurity in the state.
Kwara State Confirms Arrested Armed Men Are Miyetti Allah Members in Federal Security Operation
The Kwara State Government has clarified that the armed men recently apprehended by soldiers in the state, initially believed to be bandits, are members of Miyetti Allah participating in a federal security operation coordinated through the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The clarification comes in the wake of public concern following reports by SaharaReporters that Nigerian soldiers intercepted a group of armed individuals carrying AK-47 rifles while patrolling in a security vehicle in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
The suspects claimed that they were sponsored by the ‘Ilorin government,’ a development that sparked public anger and renewed fears over insecurity in the state.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that residents strongly opposed an alleged plan by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to deploy armed Fulani herders, popularly known as Bororos, to combat banditry in Kwara.
The plan was said to involve the arming of non-state actors with AK-47 rifles under a controversial security framework.
Both the Kwara State Government and Miyetti Allah initially denied any arrangement involving the arming of herders or collaboration with bandits.
However, fresh clarifications by state officials have now linked the arrested men to a joint security initiative coordinated by the federal government following deadly attacks in the area.
Speaking on Informant247, Ibrahim Abdulateef, Senior Special Assistant on Communication to the Kwara State Governor, confirmed that the arrested individuals were members of Miyetti Allah who were incorporated into a Joint Task Force-style arrangement following the September 29 attacks in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
According to him, the Office of the National Security Adviser coordinated a security response involving recognised security officers alongside local vigilantes and members of Miyetti Allah.
“Under their security setup, they use both recognised officers and a JTF which includes members of Miyetti Allah and local vigilante networks,” Abdulateef said. “In a bid to empower security forces, a patrol vehicle was provided through the local government chairman.”
He added that after completing their assignment, the men allegedly absconded with the patrol van and were promptly reported to security authorities.
“They were later arrested in Auchi, Edo State, not anywhere in Kwara,” he said, adding that the state government had formally written to request the return of its vehicle.
Abdulateef also clarified that the individuals, who were armed, originated from Ifelodun Local Government and were neither Yoruba nor apprehended within Kwara State during the subsequent interception.
Meanwhile, Rafiu Ajakaye, the Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, has clarified that one of the individuals named in the confessions, identified as Victor, is neither an officer of the Department of State Services (DSS) nor the Nigerian Air Force, contrary to earlier speculation.
“Victor is a police sergeant attached to the NSA Office,” the CPS said.
He further disclosed that Victor and the vigilante operatives had since left Kwara State in line with the position of affected local communities, a decision the government said it respected.
The CPS cautioned against sensational reporting of sensitive security matters, describing the situation as a “secrecy dilemma” that requires balance to ensure accountability without undermining national security efforts.
“We are going through a difficult phase in national security emergency. The pain of losing our brothers and sisters and of losing our peace of mind cannot be quantified. Losing a soul is a tragedy -- much less many souls,” he said in a WhatsApp post.
The state government called for calm, urging political elites and community leaders to act with tact and responsibility amid rising tensions.
"But statesmen and patriots aren't known in time of peace and ease. The elite (who shoulder the burden of guiding the masses) need to handle these whole things with a lot of tact and patriotism,” he said.
"May God guide us, restore peace in our land, expose the evil doers and their collaborators, and make our country stronger, more peaceful, and more prosperous,” the CPS added. “This is a time for careful leadership, not reckless accusations.”
On October 2, 2025, SaharaReporters published a story highlighting opposition among Kwara State residents to an alleged directive by Ribadu, the National Security Adviser to President Bola Tinubu.
The directive reportedly involved a controversial plan to deploy Fulani herders, locally referred to as Bororos, armed with AK-47 rifles, as part of efforts to combat banditry in the state.
The plan, which was intended to curb escalating attacks in Kwara state, triggered strong opposition from residents and local Fulani leaders, who argued that the strategy could worsen insecurity instead of solving it.
Federal Government Holds Security Meeting in Ilorin
SaharaReporters also previously reported that the Federal Government, in collaboration with security agencies, recently convened a high-level meeting in Ilorin to address escalating cases of kidnappings, killings, and cattle rustling across Kwara communities.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the meeting brought together local Fulani leaders affiliated with Miyetti Allah, the DSS, and the police.
Objections to Arming Herders
Several Fulani stakeholders reportedly opposed plans to arm Bororos, migrant herders often linked to violence. They warned that such a move could exacerbate insecurity.
The leaders emphasized the steady influx of herders migrating into Kwara from neighbouring states, many allegedly concealing weapons among their cattle to evade law enforcement.
The meeting reportedly discussed restricting cattle movements, with Fulani leaders suggesting a ban on grazing in Kwara Central after 5 p.m., citing nighttime grazing as a cover for criminal activity.
Sources said the deployment of Bororos in crisis zones, including previous attempts in Kwara South, failed to curb killings and kidnappings.
Concerns from Former Fulani Leaders
Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadri, former Seriki Fulani of Igangan, Oyo State, who relocated to Kwara following clashes with Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Igboho in 2021, was cited by sources as highlighting the volatility of migrant Fulani herders.
Abdulkadri, however, denied attending the Ilorin meeting, although he confirmed that some migrant herders had been deployed in Kwara by the NSA, Ribadu.
Rising Violence and Targeted Killings
The discussion also addressed the killings of prominent Fulani leaders, including Alhaji Idris Abubakar Sakaina and Alhaji Dabe, who were reportedly targeted after collaborating with local vigilantes to combat kidnappers.
Residents in Kwara South reportedly remain traumatized, with nearly 16 communities abandoned due to threats from herders and bandits.
Calls for Local Security Solutions
Local hunters and community leaders have demanded the evacuation of migrant herders from Kwara South and the arming of indigenous hunters, arguing that locals are better positioned to protect their communities.
They criticized the government for empowering herders allegedly responsible for violence while sidelining indigenous security actors.
Miyetti Allah Denies Allegations
However, when contacted by SaharaReporters, the National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Baba Usman-Ngelzarma, dismissed claims that the association or its members had been armed to fight in Kwara.
He described reports of the deployment of armed herders as propaganda and emphasized that Miyetti Allah collaborates with security agencies to promote peace without carrying arms.
Similarly, the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Saleh Alhassan, denied any involvement in arming herders or participating in violence, attributing insecurity in the state to criminal gangs, jihadist groups, and poor governance rather than the herders themselves.
He urged adherence to due process, lawful arrests, and fair trials as the only path to lasting stability.