Sources told SaharaReporters that the suspect was apprehended in a community in Kwara South, a region that has in recent months witnessed frequent terrorist attacks, kidnappings and other violent crimes.
A member of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association has been arrested in Kwara State after he was allegedly found in possession of a rifle reportedly issued by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) for security operations in the state.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the suspect was apprehended in a community in Kwara South, a region that has in recent months witnessed frequent terrorist attacks, kidnappings and other violent crimes.
According to the source, the suspect was seen moving around the community with the rifle, raising suspicion among residents.
He was subsequently apprehended and handed over to officers of the Nigeria Police Force for investigation.
“The man was seen with a rifle said to have been given to members of Miyetti Allah to secure parts of Kwara State, especially Kwara South,” the source said.
A photograph shared with SaharaReporters by the source shows one of the suspects, identified as a Miyetti Allah member, allegedly hiding a rifle inside his jacket.
The arrest has further heightened concerns among residents over the proliferation of arms and the role of non-state actors in security arrangements across the state.
Many locals have continued to question the effectiveness of security measures in Kwara South, where communities have repeatedly complained of daily attacks and abductions by armed groups.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kwara State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the arrest or clarified the circumstances under which the rifle was issued.
SaharaReporters previously reported that the Kwara State government 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.”