In a widely circulated video from over the weekend, a group of women from Oke-Ode and surrounding communities in Ifelodun Local Government Area were attacked and flogged by suspected hoodlums while protesting worsening insecurity in Ilorin.

The women, who had converged near the Government House to plead for the rescue of their kidnapped husbands and children, were chased away by men wielding canes, reportedly while security operatives watched without intervening.

The incident has sparked intense controversy and political friction. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State condemned the "brutal and inhumane" assault, accusing the state government of using thugs to silence grieving citizens.

In response, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq issued a statement on Monday expressing outrage and distancing his administration from the attack, describing it as unacceptable. He has directed the police to identify and prosecute the culprits, emphasizing that peaceful protest is a democratic right.

This latest unrest follows a string of deadly attacks in Ifelodun LGA, including a recent raid in Owa-Onire and earlier ambushes in Oke-Ode that claimed the lives of several local hunters and forest guards.

To address the crisis, the Governor recently led the passing out parade of 1,000 newly trained armed forest guards, while the Army Headquarters has reportedly ordered the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2nd Division to relocate to Kwara to coordinate a more robust response.

The development has generated condemnation online, with some accusing the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq-led government of unlawfully gagging and attacking peaceful protesters.

Human rights activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore condemned the unconstitutional attacks on the protesters, saying the development was unacceptable in any democracy.

"I unequivocally condemn Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq's intolerance and high-handedness in sanctioning or, at the very least, permitting such barbaric acts against citizens exercising their constitutional right to protest. This descent into violence against women and children is unacceptable in any democracy," Mr Sowore said.

Meanwhile, Governor Abdulrazaq expressed outrage over the development, ordering the police to find out who the attackers were and bring them to book.

"Peaceful protest is a democratic right," the governor said in a statement by his chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, on Monday. "The women are within their rights to express their views."

"We, therefore, distance ourselves from the incident as it does not represent our values as a government. We call on the police to find the attackers and bring them to account."

While describing the attack as unacceptable, Mr Abdulrazaq restated his administration's commitment to protecting lives and property in the state.

"The government, meanwhile, is clearly not standing aloof on security matters. Just on Saturday, December 27, the governor personally led the passing out parade of armed forest guards whose mandate includes flushing out kidnappers and terrorists from our forests.

"This is in addition to heavy deployment of security forces, among other investments, to secure our communities," the statement added.