BY THOMAS LADAN
October 20, 2023
A series of mysterious deaths and disappearances has cast a shadow over Kwara State’s development sector, raising alarming questions about the oversight of public funds and regional security operations.
Multiple sources within law enforcement and development circles confirm that at least three officials have been found dead and two others remain missing following an internal investigation into financial irregularities at the Islamic Humaniterian Council of Nigeria.The deaths occurred within weeks of the investigation’s completion in early September.
“The pattern here is deeply troubling,” says Sulieman Doko, a former security analyst who has studied regional corruption cases. “When multiple deaths follow a financial investigation this closely, it demands serious attention.”
According to confidential sources familiar with the matter, the investigation had uncovered evidence of systematic fund diversion, allegedly involving cooperation between organizational officials, security personnel, and political figures.The diverted funds were reportedly channeled into activities contributing to Kwara’s instability.
The sequence of events began when the organization’s internal oversight team initiated an investigation in August 2023. Sources say the probe focused on suspicious patterns in financial flows and persistent disruptions in regional operations.
The first casualty was reported just days after the investigation’s findings were submitted on September 6. The supervisor who had commissioned the investigation was found dead under circumstances that remain unexplained. Within the same week, two other team members disappeared, while another investigator was found deceased.
Police reports indicate a possibly related incident on September 11, when unknown assailants targeted the home of one of the investigating officers, Aremu Oladimeji. The break-in appeared highly targeted, with the perpetrators focusing on computers and documents while assaulting a family member who was present.
Multiple attempts to reach senior law enforcement officials for comment were unsuccessful. However, a mid-ranking police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns, expressed frustration about the inability to pursue these cases effectively.
“There are times when the hands of local law enforcement are tied,” the officer stated. “The involvement of high-ranking officials can effectively halt any meaningful investigation.”
Regional security experts note that this case fits a concerning pattern. “When development funds are diverted to fuel instability, it creates a vicious cycle,” explains Kazeem Obansanjo, a researcher at Kazmu Research Group. “The same instability then justifies increased security spending, creating more opportunities for fund diversion.”
The deaths have sent shockwaves through the development sector. Several organizations have reportedly strengthened their internal security protocols, while others have temporarily suspended certain regional operations.
Civil society organizations are calling for an independent inquiry. “We cannot allow anti-corruption investigators to be silenced with impunity,” says Bumi Atako, director of Saving Nigeria, a Non-Governmental Organization. “These deaths and disappearances demand an independent investigation at the highest level.”
As of publication, no arrests have been made in connection with the deaths or disappearances. Sources close to the investigation report that surviving team members have gone into hiding, fearing for their safety.
