The controversy erupted after residents of Oke-Ode and surrounding villages were left in shock following the September attacks that claimed over 12 lives and forced many to flee their homes.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has been accused of downplaying insecurity after his media aides circulated old photographs of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrikes in Borno State, presenting them as recent military operations against terrorists who attacked communities in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
The controversy erupted after residents of Oke-Ode and surrounding villages were left in shock following the September attacks that claimed over 12 lives and forced many to flee their homes.
While pressure mounted on the state government to act, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Olayinka Fafoluyi — popularly known as Solace —posted images of military bombardments on his Facebook page, claiming they were part of “multiple airstrikes” conducted by the Nigerian Air Force in Kwara State.
According to Fafoluyi’s post, the Air Task Force of Operation “OPFY Sector 3” carried out reconnaissance and close air support (CAS) operations in Kakihun, Oke-Ode, Babanla, and surrounding communities, targeting suspected bandits and terrorists east of Babanla.
He described the alleged airstrikes as a major deterrent to further attacks in Kwara South.
However, a fact-check by SaharaReporters and revealed that the images shared were not from Kwara but from Borno State.
The photographs were traced back to a NAF operation under Operation HADIN KAI, which took place in Bula Marwa, near Siraja village in Borno State, on October 25, 2024.
During that operation, airstrikes reportedly killed multiole Boko Haram terrorists. The images were first published by defence communication platform PRNigeria on October 28, 2024.
Olayinka said, “Nigerian Air Force Air Task Force OPFY Sector 3 has conducted multiple airstrikes in Kakihun, Oke-Ode, Babanla and surrounding areas in Kwara State.
“Recce + CAS ops were executed as threat deterrence & bandits/terrorists seen at East of Babanla were targeted in airstrikes.”
However, Kwara residents argue that presenting old images as recent military success in Kwara amounts to propaganda aimed at calming public outrage after terrorists invaded Oke-Ode, killing at least 12 residents and displacing many families.
The misleading post has fueled anger among citizens who accuse the state government of downplaying the severity of the security crisis in Kwara South.
Residents insist that instead of “recycling” images from unrelated operations, authorities should focus on deploying real military reinforcements to protect communities under siege.
SaharaReporters previously reported that the Kwara State Police Command confirmed that 12 vigilante members, including the Baale of Ogbayo, were killed during an armed attack in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area, on Sunday morning.
In a statement on Sunday, the command said the incident occurred at about 7:00 a.m. when gunmen invaded the Ogbayo area of Oke-Ode and opened fire indiscriminately.
“At about 7:00am today, armed men invaded the Ogbayo area of Oke-Ode, shooting sporadically. A combined team of police operatives and members of the National Forest Security Service responded swiftly to the scene, where they discovered 12 lifeless bodies of vigilante members, including the Baale of Ogbayo,” the statement read.
It added that the victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds, while four others who were injured were taken to the hospital for treatment.
The command assured that efforts were underway, in collaboration with the military and the National Forest Security Service, to track down those responsible.
“The Kwara State Police Command, in collaboration with the military and NFSS, has intensified efforts to track down the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. Manhunt operations are ongoing and the Command assures residents that those responsible will be brought to justice,” it stated.
The Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, expressed condolences to the bereaved families.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, deeply commiserates with the families of the victims; praying for the repose of their souls. He assures the people of Kwara State of the unwavering commitment of the Police Command to their safety and security,” the statement added.
The command said further updates would be communicated in due course.
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