The Kwara State Government has denied media claims of an invasion and occupation of 16 villages in the state by a neighbouring country.
The state government, in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Alhaji Mahmud Ajeigbe, said the affected villages of Okuta district of Baruten local government area of the state are calm and still under the control of the federal government.
The statement further stressed that although no foreign government has erected any structure nor hoisted their national flag in any of the villages as erroneously reported in the media, the state government has alerted the security agencies on the reports.
Ajeigbe said the Emir of Okuta, Alhaji Idris Abubakar, Chairman of Baruten Local Government Council and security agencies in the area have all confirmed that residents of the 16 villages are going about their normal activities without fear and that there is no sign of foreign security agencies or their structures in the area.
The government has therefore urged everyone to remain calm and go about their normal businesses as the Nigerian security agencies are up to the task of securing Nigeria’s borders and her people.
Also, the state police command said no single village was invaded in any part of the state.
The spokesman of the police command,ASP Ajayi Okasanmi said there was no iota of truth in some media publications on the alleged invasion of some villages in Baruten local government area of the state.
Okasanmi in a response to enquiry by our correspondent on the issue said”there is nothing like invasion of any village by foreigners in any part of Kwara state.
He, however, added that there was a boundary adjustment in the border town shortly before the last general elections and that the exercise was done peacefully.
A journalist with a federal government media who resides in Baruten also told our reporter that there was no invasion of any part of the local government by foreigners.
He said residents were going peacefully about their normal daily routines.
Source: Today