Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has warned against disclosing sensitive information on troop movements, saying such actions are aiding bandits and endangering the lives of security personnel.
The governor spoke on Tuesday during a visit to soldiers injured in a recent ambush, where he said some members of the public provide intelligence that enables attackers to target troops.
He described the practice as sabotage, stressing that security operatives are making significant sacrifices to keep the country safe.
Last Thursday, at least five residents and three soldiers were killed in attacks by suspected bandits in Mari and Dina communities in the Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State. Several women and children were also abducted during the raid.
Governor AbdulRazaq, who visited the injured personnel at a medical facility in Ilorin, was received by the Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Nicholas Nemetne Rume, and the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Abdullah Dasilva Yussuf.
During the visit, he announced a donation of N60 million to the families of three soldiers killed in the ambush and N5 million each to the three injured personnel.
He said the gesture was meant to provide immediate support pending formal compensation from the Ministry of Defence.
“We are here to visit the soldiers who were ambushed by bandits. Unfortunately, we lost three of them, while three others are receiving treatment.
“What we can do is to pray for them and support the families of those who died. May their souls rest in peace”, he said, in a statement on Tuesday night by Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Mashood, Abdulrafiu Agboola.
He added that the donation to the bereaved families was a stop-gap measure until the appropriate authorities take over their welfare.
The governor said the incident reflects the daily risks faced by security personnel, noting that they remain on the frontline to protect citizens.
“This shows the danger that security men go through every day. They are always in line of danger to keep us safe,” he said.
He urged citizens to support security agencies by providing useful information while avoiding actions that could compromise operations.