By Sukari Mohammed Alhaji
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, held a robust engagement yesterday night with compatriots from Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas. The emergency meeting focused on reviewing the troubling security situation in the two LGAs and exploring effective strategies to curb the rising incidents of kidnapping and violent attacks on innocent residents.
As part of the measures under consideration, the state government is exploring the establishment of a civilian task force. Members of this task force will be recruited from local communities, trained, supported, and allied with the conventional security forces. The initiative, which will undergo fine-tuning and broad consultations with stakeholders, is designed to strengthen existing security mechanisms and provide a more sustainable response to the unique threats facing citizens.
Governor AbdulRazaq also emphasized the need to support victims of these tragic incidents as a way of acknowledging their grief and material losses. He disclosed plans for his personal visit to the affected communities, while assuring that the state government will continue to respond promptly to distress calls.
The governor further discussed issues of local development, including interventions at the College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi, with a focus on boosting funding and infrastructure upgrades. He also exchanged ideas with stakeholders on the pressing challenge of power supply in the axis.
This security engagement came just hours after Governor AbdulRazaq’s visit to Oke Ode, Ifelodun LGA, where he condoled with families of forest guards, local hunters, and community leaders who lost their lives in the unfortunate attack of Sunday, September 28. He vowed that their sacrifices will not be in vain, pledging government’s support to their families while reaffirming that the perpetrators will not escape justice.
As Kwara State works hand-in-hand with the Federal Government and security agencies to combat these threats, Governor AbdulRazaq called on every Kwaran to embrace the collective responsibility of defending the right to life and security.
