Leave Or Die! — Gov AbdulRazaq Declares Total War On Criminals In Kwara

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has issued a stern warning to criminal elements operating in the state, declaring that they must either leave or face death at the hands of security forces determined to restore peace and order.

The governor gave the warning while receiving 23 kidnap victims recently rescued by security operatives after days of intense operations in parts of the state. He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Army for their decisive intervention, which led to the victims’ freedom.

“We thank God that you were all freed following the pressure from the security forces,” AbdulRazaq said, adding “We also thank the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his support, and the Nigerian Army and other security agencies working together to achieve this success.”

The governor, visibly relieved, said the state government would support the victims in their rehabilitation process, noting that Kwara’s challenges were temporary.

“We’ve known their plights, and I assure you that the government will support them in rehabilitation. The challenges we are going through, I can assure you, are temporary,” he said.

Speaking further, AbdulRazaq echoed the firm stance of the General Officer Commanding (GoC) who led the operations, warning that the state would no longer tolerate criminality. “Like the GoC has said, it is either they (criminals) leave Kwara or they die here. This is a state of harmony,” he declared.

He praised the Nigerian Army for its sustained efforts in flushing out bandits and restoring calm, noting the visible improvements since the GoC assumed direct oversight of the operations. “The GoC has been on the ground for the past two weeks, and since he came, we have seen the turnaround of events. We have seen the criminals leaving, with many of them arrested or terminated. Peace is now being restored to Kwara,” the governor said.

AbdulRazaq also announced plans to deploy forest guards to consolidate the military’s gains once the current cleanup operations were completed. “We will deploy forest guards immediately the Army finishes the clean-up operation in the affected areas to maintain peace and pave the way for the return of farming activities,” he added.

With renewed synergy between the military and state authorities, the governor’s declaration marks a new phase in Kwara’s fight against insecurity — one that sends a clear message to criminal gangs that the era of unchecked lawlessness is over.