Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has briefed stakeholders in the Lafiagi axis of Kwara North on the government's efforts to eliminate criminal gangs perpetrating violent crimes in the region.

The meeting, held in Ilorin, was attended by the leadership of the Lafiagi Descendants' Development Union (LADDU), headed by Dr. Abdullahi Jibril Mohammed Lafiagi.

The governor acknowledged the communities' concerns about rising insecurity and reassured them of a robust, multi-stakeholder response led by the state government.

The Nigerian Army has finalised plans for Operation Fortress, a sustained campaign targeting forest strongholds of criminal gangs in Kwara North and parts of Kwara South, including Edu and Ifelodun Local Government Areas.

The operation will involve newly trained forest guards, who will support the military in securing isolated areas and preventing criminals from relocating to other hideouts.

"These operations will rout the criminals from their hideouts and restore lasting calm in the affected areas, while care would be taken to prevent the violent elements from hibernating elsewhere.

The government has been working with the Office of the National Security Adviser to eliminate these threats in parts of the state, especially in identified settlements in Ifelodun, Edu and Patigi," according to a statement on Sunday morning.

"No one can dismiss the worries of our community folks. However, it is important to note that sensitive security issues require careful and realistic analysis of the situation, planning, and execution of plans for sustainable success."