A security and intelligence expert, Yahuza Getso, has said Nigerian security agencies cannot deny having prior knowledge of criminal elements that have operated in parts of Kwara State for more than eight years.
Getso made the assertion on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, following the recent bandits’ attack on a Kwara community in which over 100 people were reportedly killed.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage across the country and beyond.
Reacting to the attack, Getso questioned why the armed groups were allowed to remain in the area for years without being decisively confronted.
“Highly coordinated and organised criminal activities have been taking place there since 2016, 2017, and 2018,” he said.
According to him, security and intelligence personnel failed to take necessary preventive measures despite being aware of the threat.
“Whatever the situation is, the intelligence and security personnel have not been doing what they are supposed to do. This carnage could have been prevented,” Getso stated.
He added that comprehensive security operations could have flushed out criminal elements within a radius of 75 to 80 kilometres, thereby preventing clashes between the attackers and the community.
“If those measures had been implemented, these criminals would not have been present, and there would have been no conflict,” he said.
Getso insisted that security agencies were fully aware of the presence of the criminals long before the latest attack.
“The security agencies cannot tell me that they did not know about the presence of these criminals for the last eight to nine years,” he said.
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