Kwara aids bereaved families in Oke-Ode, other areas with N180m
By Dele Moses, Ilorin
Kwara State Government has come up with a sum of N180 million as financial aid for families of the people who lost their lives in attacks by bandits in both north and south senatorial districts of the state.
The state governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, according to a statement issued by his media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye, has presented cheques of the total sum of N80 million to the bereaved families of forest guards and vigilante who recently lost their lives during encounters with kidnappers in Babanla, Oke Ode, and Eleyin of Ifelodun and Isin local government areas in the southern part of the state.
The governor has also approved N100m support for the families of the men in Edu and Patigi local government areas in the northern part who died in an ambush in July by kidnappers in an attempt to confront the kidnappers.
The statement disclosed that the governor saluted the bravery and patriotism of all the victims and prayed God to repose their souls.
“We pray for the souls of the deceased. It was an unfortunate incident. They died in active service. Government cannot but sympathise with the families.
“We will do the needful to keep supporting them and making sure that the state is safe, and our country is safe.
“As you can see, the military has moved in with full force. We look forward to supporting the Nigerian Army and other security agencies as they chase the criminals out of the state,” the governor stated while presenting the check to the families at a meeting.
The meeting was attended by Chairman, Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority and a chieftain of APC from Asa, Alhaji Abdullateef Gidado Alakawa; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Alhaji Muyideen Aliyu; Chairman of Ifelodun, Alhaji Femi Yusuf; Chairman of Ilorin West, Mall Shehu AbdulRahaman Ladan; Chairman of Asa, Alhaji Shehu Yahaya; and families of the victims.
Alakawa and Yusuf, in their separate remarks, commended the Governor’s gesture, which they said will go a long way in ameliorating the suffering of the bereaved families.
They also lauded the Governor for his efforts to rout out criminals and restore a lasting peace in the affected parts of the state.
The government has meanwhile supplied new logistics support, including fighting equipment and motorcycles, for the forest guards and vigilantes maintained by communities in the flash points.
The support is expected to strengthen the forest guards and the vigilantes against attacks by kidnappers on their communities and be in a better position to complement efforts of the conventional security forces.
