Kwara cancels independence day parade over insecurity

The Kwara state government has cancelled the 55th independence anniversary parade, previously scheduled to hold at the Metropolitan Square in Ilorin on Thursday.

Sola Gold, secretary to the state government, said the decision was taken for security reasons, expressing regrets over the inconvenience that the development might cause.

“The cancellation follows security reports that certain individuals arrived the state overnight with the intention of unlawfully disrupting the independence day celebration and endangering lives,” Muyideen Akorede, spokesman of Abdulfatah Ahmed, said in a statement.

The statement said the government places high emphasis on public safety.

Last week, aggrieved protesters disrupted activities at an eid praying ground in Ilorin.

Some of the dignitaries at that ceremony were Senate President Bukola Saraki, Kawu Baraje, former acting national chairman of the PDP; Ibrahim Gambari, emir of Ilorin.