Thugs Hijack Kwara Empowerment; Cart Away N100m in Relief Items
ILORIN — Violence and chaos overshadowed a major philanthropic exercise in Oke-Onigbin, Irepodun Local Government Area, as organized thugs disrupted a high-value empowerment programme. Chief Adejoke Mistura Adeyemi, a United Kingdom-based philanthropist and House of Representatives hopeful, organized the event for All Progressives Congress (APC) members. The intervention targeted 1,500 beneficiaries drawn from Isin, Oke-Ero, Ekiti, and Irepodun local government areas of Kwara State. Despite the presence of a joint security task force, a marauding crowd overran the venue during the final stages. Consequently, the assailants carted away significant quantities of food items, leaving the organizers and dignitaries in a state of shock. While it is true that no fatalities occurred, the breach highlights the fragile security of public gatherings amidst economic hardship.
The distribution list featured substantial assets, including ten cars, a Bajaj motorcycle, and ten chest freezers. Other items included thirty sewing machines, twenty grinding machines, ten generators, and ten specialized hair dryers. Furthermore, the donor intended the 5kg bags of rice to serve as a cushion against current inflationary pressures. Speaking with journalists, Chief Adeyemi explained that she designed the ₦100 million initiative to foster financial security. Indeed, women constituted seventy percent of the captured beneficiaries to ensure gender-focused economic stimulation in the constituency.
Security operatives found themselves vastly outnumbered as the peaceful atmosphere disintegrated into a free-for-all struggle. A joint team of soldiers, police, and civil defence personnel attempted to maintain order during the raid. In a related development, local hunters and Road Safety officials joined the effort to repel the aggressive intruders. Granted, the “fierce-looking thugs” appeared determined to sabotage the political optics of the successful distribution. Notably, most of the heavy machinery and vehicles had reached the primary beneficiaries before the mob struck. Above all, the incident has sparked a debate regarding the safety of open-field empowerment models in rural Kwara.
Significantly, the event boasted a high-profile attendance, including several prominent traditional rulers and political leaders. The Olómù of Omu Aran and the Onigbin of Oke-Onigbin led the array of traditional authorities present. Subsequently, Chief Adeyemi reaffirmed her commitment to the region despite the “unfortunate” interference of the criminal elements. Although the loss of food items is substantial, the philanthropist insists she will continue her divine mandate. Therefore, future organizers must rethink their logistics to prevent such brazen lootings of community resources.
The Kwara State Police Command has launched an investigation to identify the “masterminds” behind the Oke-Onigbin invasion. As a result of this breach, security for subsequent political rallies in Kwara South will likely undergo a total overhaul.