Kwara Attorney-General Targets Journalists, Activists Who Condemned Attack On Protesters, Plots Arrests
Despite the involvement of thugs reportedly escorted by two mobile police officers from the Kwara State Government House in a violent attack on peaceful protesters, the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ibrahim Sulyman, is allegedly orchestrating a clampdown on journalists and activists who criticised the assault.
A source familiar with the situation told SaharaReporters that Sulyman has finalised plans to use the Kwara State Police Command’s Monitoring Unit to arrest investigative journalist Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed, rights activist Comrade Saliu Bolakale, and civic leader Musa Tsaragi.
The trio had publicly condemned the July attack in Ilorin, where thugs — allegedly led by one Kale Alanamu and escorted by the Senior Special Assistant on Security to the Governor, Alhaji Muyideen Aliyu, and the Governor’s Special Adviser on Social Investment, Sadiq Buhari — assaulted demonstrators.
The source revealed that the same group of thugs also attacked plainclothes officers from the State Intelligence Department (SID) who were monitoring the protest.
Rather than investigating and holding the perpetrators accountable, the Attorney-General is allegedly using his office to target dissenting voices, raising serious concerns about abuse of power and shrinking civic space in Kwara State.
The source noted that Sulyman did not address those who sent the thugs to attack the protesters but was more concerned about using the Monitoring Unit to clamp down on journalists and activists in the state.
"This is not the first time the Kwara State Government has used security operatives to arrest and detain critics,” the source said.
"They are fond of using officers like Inspector Ojo Samuel and Inspector Aluya Ezekiel, both from the Monitoring Unit, to carry out their shady activities."
Another top officer told SaharaReporters that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has yet to issue a press statement to condole with the officers who were ambushed and killed in Kwara North. Yet, he is quick to deploy the same police force to arrest critics.
"Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq showed no concern for the police officers killed last month. He neither issued a condolence statement nor visited the bereaved families.
"Even after two thugs were arrested, they were later released on the orders of the Government House. Yet, the same government went ahead to file a petition against the people they used thugs to attack," the source said.
Musa Tsaragi told SaharaReporters that Kale Alanamu attacked him while Sadiq Buhari sat in front of a Toyota Siena vehicle.
According to him, the car was driven by Alhaji Muyideen Aliyu and accompanied by two mobile police officers, who seized their phones and deleted pictures and videos.
“Sadiq Buhari is from my town; I know him very well. He was sitting inside the Siena. He even pointed at me while they brought two thugs and two police officers who attacked us. The thugs also assaulted some plainclothes police officers and smashed their phone,” he said.
He added that the Nigerian police must produce the arrested thugs and the two mobile officers who confiscated their phones and deleted the photos and videos, insisting that the police know their identities.
Kwara Govt’s History Of Suppression
On June 30, SaharaReporters reported that a former federal lawmaker and prominent political figure in Kwara State, Hon. Mashood Mustapha, made his first appearance in court on Monday, following a defamation suit filed against him by Governor AbdulRazaq.
The legal action stems from comments made by Mustapha after the state government demolished his property.
Mustapha had publicly criticised the governor for what he described as the “arbitrary and vindictive” demolition of his building, which housed several tenants.
The demolition reportedly occurred just three hours after the tenants received a notice of vacation — a move Mustapha condemned as high-handed and unlawful.
Mustapha, who holds the esteemed traditional title of Wakilin of Ilorin Emirate, was represented by a legal team headed by Prof. Kayode Olatoke.
The other members of his legal team include Mr Emeka Etiaba, SAN; Mr Jimoh Adebimpe Abdulmumini, SAN; Mr George Ibrahim, SAN; Mr Lanre Abdul, Esq; and Sadiq Abdulbaki, Esq.
On the other hand, Mr Bolakale Mustapha, who was charged for releasing and uploading Mashood Mustapha’s video reaction to the demolition of his property by the Kwara State Government, was represented by Mr Moses Ebute, SAN; Mr Tafa Ahmed, Esq; and Mr David James, Esq.
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