Kwara State Police Command has faulted an intelligent report trending on social media on the alleged movement of bandits to the state as fake.

The state Commissioner of Police, Tuesday Assayomo, in a statement released late on Saturday, said contrary to the claims, no parts of forests in the state have been occupied by bandits.

The report which was titled, ‘Intelligence report on movement on bandits’, was claimed to have emanated from the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police Nigeria Police, Force Intelligence Bureau, Area 10, Garki, Abuja addressed to the state Commissioner of Police.

The report read, “The Bureau is in receipt of information on the movement of some Bandits/Kidnappers numbering about 112 who will be travelling in two each on motorcycles while their arms and ammunitions will be conveyed by a truck loaded with food items in disguise.

“Source further reveals that the route they will ply include but not limited to Kebbi State via Kanba, Malavi to Benin republic. The movement is scheduled to commence on 1st and 2nd of August, 2022 at about 2300hrs.

“It is pertinent to note that, they already have a Base in Kainji Lake National Park which shares boundaries with about four States i.e. Kebbi State, Niger State, Kwara State and Oyo State respectively.

“They have concluded plans to use Kwara State National Park Forest Reserve as their major Base and part of Kisi and Igbeti in Oyo State as they already have some underground hideouts in Naanu by Rafin Kunama reserve area, Kwara State.”

However, Assayamo in a statement issued by the command’s spokesman, Ajayi Okasanmi, described the intelligent report as fake.

“The reports trending on the social media that bandits have taken over parts of Kwara forests is fake”, describing the writers as mischievous, desirous of sowing a seed of distrust and fear in the minds of the good people of Kwara State and Nigeria at large.

Assayomo who urged residents to give information about any negative development or strange movement in any parts of the state to police authorities asked them to continue to live in peace as hunters and local vigilantes have been coopted into routine patrol of the forest, towards ensuring that no part of it was infiltrated by the bandits.

The statement read, “The Kwara State Police Command wishes to debunk a fake intelligence report circulating on several social media platforms to the effect that some forest reserves in parts of Kwara State have been surrounded and ready to be used as launching pads to attack Kwara State and some neighbouring states in the country.

“The command wishes to state categorically that Kwara state is safe and secured and no part of Kwara State is occupied by bandits or terrorists.

“The writer and sharer of that fake intelligence report are mischievous, desirous of sowing a seed of distrust and fear in the minds of the good people of Kwara state in particular and Nigeria in general; an attempt to create panic in the minds of peace-loving Kwarans. They have failed!”

“The commitment of the police and other security agencies in Kwara State, of their red-alertness to the protection and defend the lives and properties of citizens and residents of Kwara State.

“Consequently, the good people of the state are advised to give information to the police whenever anything negative or sinister developments is being suspected around their vicinity.

“The CP also enjoins citizens and residents of the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear of attack or intimidation

“Once again, the command would not relent in regular patrols, intelligence gathering and raiding of black spots in conjunction with sister security agencies in the state.”The statement concluded.