Gov AbdulRazaq Presents ₦80m Cheques to Families of Fallen Forest Guards, Approves ₦100m Support for Edu/Patigi Heroes
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Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has presented cheques totaling ₦80 million to the families of forest guards and vigilantes who lost their lives in recent encounters with kidnappers at Babanla, Oke Ode, and Eleyin in Ifelodun and Isin Local Government Areas of the state.
The Governor has also approved an additional ₦100 million support package for the families of community fighters from Edu and Patigi who were killed in a July ambush by kidnappers while attempting to defend their communities.
This was contained in a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, on Sunday, October 13, 2025.
According to the statement, Governor AbdulRazaq described the fallen heroes as patriots who paid the ultimate price in the service of their state and the nation.
“We pray for the souls of the deceased. It was an unfortunate incident. They died in active service. The government cannot but sympathise with the families,” the Governor said.
“We will continue to do the needful to support them and to make sure that our state and our country remain safe. As you can see, the military has moved in with full force, and we will continue to support the Nigerian Army and other security agencies as they chase the criminals out of the state.”
The statement added that the presentation ceremony was held in Ilorin over the weekend and attended by top government officials and community leaders, including the Chairman of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority and APC chieftain, Alhaji Abdullateef Gidado Alakawa; the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Alhaji Muyideen Aliyu; Chairman of Ifelodun LGA, Alhaji Femi Yusuf; Chairman of Ilorin West, Mallam Shehu AbdulRahman Ladan; and Chairman of Asa, Alhaji Shehu Yahaya.
In their remarks, Alakawa and Yusuf commended Governor AbdulRazaq for the compassionate gesture and for his administration’s continuous efforts to restore peace and security in the affected areas. They said the support would go a long way in easing the pains of the bereaved families.
The statement also noted that the government has provided new logistics and fighting equipment, including motorcycles, to forest guards and vigilantes operating in flashpoint communities across the state. The initiative, it added, will further strengthen local security efforts and complement the operations of conventional security agencies in the fight against kidnapping and banditry.
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