Offa robbery: Group, kinsmen disagree over planned trial of Saraki
The Kwara Governance Reform Group (KGRG) and allies of former Senate President Bukola Saraki have taken opposing positions over moves to prosecute Saraki, ex-governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and two others for
The Kwara Governance Reform Group (KGRG) and allies of former Senate President Bukola Saraki have taken opposing positions over moves to prosecute Saraki, ex-governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and two others for alleged culpable homicide following the Court of Appeal’s ruling on the April 2018 Offa robbery.
While the KGRG insisted that justice must take precedence over politics in the renewed investigation into the deadly robbery, Saraki’s kinsmen, under the aegis of the Agbaji Development Association (ADA), appealed for intervention to ease rising tensions in the state.
The advocacy group, speaking in Ilorin, urged that the matter not be politicised, stressing that recent developments should be understood strictly within the ambit of the law and the pursuit of accountability for victims of the attack.
KGRG’s Organising Secretary, Queen Olarewaju-Arewa, told journalists that emerging revelations linking Saraki, Ahmed and others to the incident had reignited calls for deeper investigation. She maintained that those mentioned should submit to due process in order to clear their names.
According to her, the renewed attention did not stem from political vendetta but followed a petition reportedly submitted by the Offa Descendants Union (ODU) to the Kwara State Government on October 3, 2024, requesting an investigation into individuals allegedly named by convicted members of the robbery gang.
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She explained that the petition came on the heels of a Kwara State High Court judgment delivered by Justice Haleema Salman, which sentenced five suspects to death for their roles in the robbery that claimed 33 lives, including police officers. The Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the convictions in January 2026, she added, further strengthened calls for all persons linked to the crime to face due process.
“What is expected of those mentioned is not political grandstanding, but lawful response to grave allegations arising from investigations and statements attributed to convicted members of the robbery gang,” she said.
Olarewaju-Arewa criticised attempts by some political actors to frame the issue as persecution, arguing that such narratives undermine the cause of justice and accountability. She urged stakeholders to support efforts to dismantle criminal networks rather than obstruct investigations.
“We are demanding justice for the 33 victims of the Offa robbery. The memory of the victims demands truth, accountability and justice, nothing less,” she said.
However, the ADA pushed back strongly against what it described as attempts to politicise the case. Its National Secretary, Mallam Mohammed Ghali Jamiu, called on the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, to intervene and calm tensions between the Kwara State Government and Saraki.
“Ilorin Emirate is not a theatre of political vendetta. The Saraki family has paid its dues in the history and development of the state, and any attempt to rewrite that history through blackmail and public manipulation will be firmly resisted.
"We call on the Emir of Ilorin to urgently intervene and call all parties, especially those fueling this propaganda to order.
"We also call on the ulama to intensify prayers as Ilorin Emirate must not be dragged into avoidable conflict. Ilorin must remain a land of honour not a battlefield for political intimidation and propaganda."
Jamiu further warned against escalating rhetoric, expressing concern over what he described as a deepening rift between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Saraki.
“While we call for restraint, we will not tolerate continued provocation. We watch with growing anger and deep concern the recent developments in the Emirate between the governor and Senator Saraki.
"What is unfolding before the eyes of the public is no longer about justice, it is a calculated political campaign driven with propaganda and deliberate attempts to tarnish the image of Dr Saraki and the state entire Saraki family.
"We state clearly and without fear, the continuous use of media platforms, state influence and coordinated voices linked to the AbdulRazaq family and their allies to malign and embarrass the Saraki family is unacceptable, provocative and dangerous.”
In a related development, members of the Alaro family—also kinsmen of Saraki—called on the former Senate President to institute legal action against Governor AbdulRazaq and the Kwara State Government over alleged defamation linked to the Offa robbery claims.
Speaking on behalf of the family in Ilorin, spokesperson Alhaji Muritala Saka Alaro said the move was necessary to safeguard Saraki’s reputation and preserve the family’s legacy.
"As first cousins to the Saraki family, we call on Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki — Waziri Ngeri of Ilorin to institute legal action against Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and the Kwara State Government for defamation of character in relation to the Offa robbery allegations.
"This step is necessary to affirm his integrity and protect the family’s name for generations unborn".
"Our Resolution: Should Dr. Saraki choose not to act, we, the Alaro family, will take it upon ourselves to institute legal proceedings against Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and the Kwara State Government if it is established that the Offa robbery has no link to the Waziri of Ilorin.
"The lesson for all is simple: we must stop chasing shadows and choose our battles wisely. The peace and progress of Ilorin must not be sacrificed on the altar of personal or political rivalry.
"We call on elders, religious leaders, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), other sociocultural associations within the Ilorin Emirate, and all well-meaning Kwarans to rise at this critical moment and speak in defense of truth, justice, and unity. Silence, at a time like this, can easily be misinterpreted as consent, and we must not allow falsehood, distortion, or politically motivated narratives to define our collective history.
"The responsibility to preserve the peace and dignity of Ilorin rests on all of us — regardless of status, affiliation, or background. Our Emirate has thrived because of mutual respect, historical consciousness, and a shared commitment to progress. These values must continue to guide our actions, especially in moments of tension and provocation.
"We, therefore, urge all stakeholders to act with wisdom, restraint, and a deep sense of responsibility to future generations. Let us choose dialogue over division, truth over propaganda, and unity over rivalry. The Ilorin Emirate must remain a symbol of stability, honour, and coexistence for all.”
