During his inaugural official visit to Kwara State since assuming office as Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu vowed on Monday that security forces would decisively flush out bandits and restore peace to affected areas.

Speaking in Ilorin to police personnel, security stakeholders, and community representatives, Disu emphasized that no criminal group would be allowed to displace residents from their ancestral homes.

He declared: “These criminals cannot chase us out of our hometowns. We are the rightful owners of these lands, and we will not permit that. We must reclaim our homes and communities through sustained and intensified operations.”

The IGP highlighted that his visit aimed to bolster morale among officers, reinforce current efforts, and motivate even stronger action against banditry, kidnappings, and violent crimes plaguing parts of the state.

He called on residents to provide timely and reliable intelligence to security agencies, describing community partnership as essential to dismantling criminal networks.

Disu cautioned against ethnic profiling, stressing that crimes should not be linked to any particular group. He praised cooperative Fulani individuals and networks for their past assistance in operations, noting: “Not all Fulani are bad. Many good Fulani have lived peacefully as our neighbors for generations, and they are helping us significantly.”

Representatives from Fulani communities present at the event reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful coexistence, pledging ongoing intelligence support to expose criminal hideouts and prevent lawless elements from damaging their reputation.

Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, welcomed the IGP’s visit, describing it as a morale booster. “We are grateful that he chose Kwara for his first operational visit after appointment. This shows his love for the state and commitment to our security challenges,” Ojo said.

Earlier, Disu paid a courtesy call on Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq at the Government House in Ilorin.

Kwara, long regarded as relatively calm compared to northern hotspots, has seen a sharp rise in banditry, kidnappings, and attacks in recent years. From January to early November 2025, reports indicate at least 207 deaths and 177 abductions, mostly in rural local government areas like Ifelodun, Pategi, Kaiama, Irepodun, and Osin. Recent incidents in Woro and surrounding communities have further heightened resident fears.

Criminals have exploited dense forests, inadequate road infrastructure, and unguarded bush paths to carry out raids, often in zones with limited security presence.