By Iradat Abdullateef
Residents of Oke-Ode in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have commended the Federal Government for deploying soldiers to restore peace and combat banditry in the area.
The National President of the Oke-Ode Development Association, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Ajala-Bello, described the move as “a right step in the right direction,” noting that the community had long appealed for a military base to curb rising insecurity.
“Almost all the villages around the axis have been attacked by bandits. We lost many loved ones, others were injured, and some are still in captivity. The soldiers’ presence has given us renewed hope,” Ajala-Bello said.
He confirmed that commercial activities had resumed, with the community’s five-day market now active again.
Ajala-Bello also announced plans to assist displaced residents in returning home.
“Some people want to return but lack transport fare. Buses will be provided in Ilorin from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday to convey them back home,” he added.
He urged the Federal Government and security agencies to sustain their efforts until “banditry and criminality become a thing of the past.”
