.Reform Group says justice must not be compromised
From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
A coalition of youths and residents from Ilorin Emirate, alongside members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has raised alarm over what they describe as a renewed political attempt to implicate former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in the Offa robbery incident.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Abdulkadiri Issa, Ilorin west PDP Chairman, and Adio Odunjo, Kwara State PDP Youth Leader, said the recent resurfacing of the case was not driven by a quest for justice but by political motives aimed at discrediting Saraki.
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The group expressed concern that a painful chapter in the state’s history was being revisited, not to bring closure to affected families, but to score political points.
They questioned the timing of the renewed attention on the case, insisting that all legal processes surrounding the matter had been concluded.
Citing the outcome of previous investigations, the group noted that the Nigerian Police had thoroughly handled the case, while the Director of Public Prosecution reportedly found no link between Saraki and the robbery.
The youths and residents also accused the state government of focusing on political distractions instead of addressing pressing security challenges in parts of Kwara.
They described Saraki as a prominent leader with verifiable contributions to Kwara and Nigeria, warning against what they termed attempts to tarnish his image over issues he had been cleared of legally.
“You may oppose him politically, but trying to smear his name with baseless allegations is unacceptable. We will not remain silent,” the group declared.
While reaffirming their commitment to the rule of law, the stakeholders called for transparency and due process in handling any matter of public concern.
The group, however, urged Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to reconsider what they described as a dangerous political path and to prioritise governance over propaganda.
“Leadership demands restraint and responsibility. We call on the governor to retract this narrative and avoid actions that could heat up the polity and reopen wounds families are still trying to heal,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, a Kwara reform group has insisted justice must not be politicised in renewed Offa massacre probe
The Kwara Governance Reform Group (KGRG), urged all parties linked to the renewed investigation into the 2018 Offa robbery tragedy, to allow due legal processes to take their course, warning against what it described as attempts to turn a grave criminal matter into political theatre.
Speaking in Ilorin on Friday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, the group’s publicity secretary, Arewa Olanrewaju, said recent reactions to the reopening of investigations involving former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and two former aides, Olalekan Alabi and Baba Abdulwahab, were distracting from the pursuit of justice for victims.
According to her, “rather than preparing to submit himself to due legal process to clear his name, Senator Saraki has chosen to resort to media campaigns, using political affiliates to cast the matter as persecution and to blackmail the Kwara State Government.”
She added that the group rejected any attempt to politicise the case, stressing that the renewed attention did not originate from government action but from fresh demands for accountability by stakeholders.
“The Offa Descendants’ Union (ODU), on October 3, 2024, formally petitioned the Kwara State Government to investigate those mentioned by convicted robbers following the judgment of Justice Haleema Salman of the Kwara State High Court,” she said.
The statement recalled that five suspects had earlier been convicted and sentenced to death over their role in the 2018 robbery incident, which claimed about 33 lives, including police officers.
It further noted that the Court of Appeal in Ilorin, on January 2026, upheld the convictions and death sentences, affirming findings on armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and culpable homicide.
With further proceedings still pending at the Supreme Court, the group argued that there is no legal basis to dismiss ongoing investigative processes.
KGRG also cautioned political actors, particularly within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against framing the matter as partisan persecution, warning that such narratives risk weakening public trust in accountability processes.
It stressed that the memory of victims of the Offa robbery must remain central to all discussions, insisting that “justice for the 33 victims must not be sacrificed on the altar of political convenience.”
The group further called on security agencies and judicial authorities to remain steadfast in uncovering all possible networks linked to violent crime, amid rising concerns over insecurity, arms proliferation and kidnappings across the country.
