Tinubu’s Counterinsurgency Paying Off With Arrest Of Kingpins – Kwara Governor

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has described the arrest of two top terrorist leaders as evidence that President Bola Tinubu’s counterinsurgency strategy is yielding results. The governor’s comment follows the recent arrest of leaders of Ansaru and the Mahmuda group. The Mahmuda group, which operated in the forest areas of the Kainji Lake Reserves and […]

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has described the arrest of two top terrorist leaders as evidence that President Bola Tinubu’s counterinsurgency strategy is yielding results.

The governor’s comment follows the recent arrest of leaders of Ansaru and the Mahmuda group.

The Mahmuda group, which operated in the forest areas of the Kainji Lake Reserves and parts of Niger State, has launched several attacks on neighbouring communities in both states.

Experts said the reserves cover an area about four times larger than the Sambisa Forest in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Residents and victims of these attacks in Kwara had urged the government to sustain the offensive.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Governor said the capture of Mahmud Muhammad Usman, leader of Ansaru, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Malam Mahmuda, was a significant step in ongoing security operations across the country.

“These arrests are a major development for the country. We thank the President, the National Security Adviser, and the leadership of the Armed Forces, the Police, and other agencies for this feat. We are confident that these arrests, along with other efforts at various levels across the country, will help stamp out criminal activities in our communities,” he stated.

The Governor pledged to continue supporting the President and the security agencies in the sustained fight against terrorism.

According to him, residents should be assured that the government would continue to work with security agencies to eliminate threats, stressing that no resources were being spared to protect lives and property.

He noted that the non-disclosure of specific operational details should not be mistaken for inaction, adding that several planned attacks had been foiled in recent months through intelligence gathering and timely interventions.

On support for victims of terrorist attacks in the state, the Governor directed the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) to take inventory of persons affected by recent security incidents for assistance, in collaboration with community leaders.

“As more security operatives, including forest guards, are deployed to boost safety in the affected areas, renewed efforts are underway to curtail the activities of criminals in the hinterlands,” AbdulRazaq said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye.