The Kwara State Police Command has recorded a string of major security breakthroughs, including the interception of live ammunition concealed in a bag of garri and the arrest of suspected cultists, kidnappers and a human parts trafficker, as part of intensified operations across the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, disclosed this ti newsmen in Ilorin on Friday.
He said the Command remains “resolute, proactive, and unrelenting” in its duty to protect lives and property, stressing that criminal elements will find no safe haven in Kwara.
He said : “These achievements clearly show that law-abiding citizens can go about their lawful activities with confidence, while we continue to disrupt criminal networks through intelligence-led policing.”
He said one of the major breakthroughs came on April 10, when operatives of Operation Harmony intercepted a suspicious vehicle along Ajase-Ipo Road.
A search of the vehicle revealed 98 rounds of live ammunition hidden inside a bag of garri, in what police described as a deliberate attempt to evade detection.
Three suspects were linked to the illegal arms deal, with one of them allegedly receiving N1.3 million to procure the ammunition.
The police said the suspects are cooperating with investigators, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate still at large.
In a separate operation, police arrested two suspected cultists in connection with a shop breaking incident opposite Bovas Filling Station in Odota, where goods worth about N2.5 million were stolen.
Although the suspects denied involvement in the theft, they admitted belonging to the notorious Eiye confraternity.
A search of their residence led to the recovery of an empty AK-47 magazine, raising concerns about their involvement in wider criminal activities.
The police disclosed that investigation is ongoing to recover the stolen items and apprehend other suspects, including a landlord’s son alleged to be connected to the weapon.
Similarly, operatives in Ganmo, working with local vigilantes, arrested two men found in possession of a cut-to-size shotgun and a live cartridge following a distress call about suspicious movements in the area.
The suspects were identified as members of a cult group terrorising residents.
In another development, a 29-year-old suspect was intercepted during routine patrol along the Oroago axis with a large quantity of electronic items, including phone chargers, mobile devices, a POS terminal and an Apple smartwatch.
Police said inconsistencies in his explanation raised suspicion of possible links to kidnapping activities, adding that investigations are ongoing.
The Command also confirmed the arrest of a suspect involved in the attempted sale of a human skull in Kaiama.
According to police findings, the suspect allegedly exhumed the remains of a relative buried earlier this year and removed the skull for ritual purposes.
His accomplice is currently on the run.
CP Adekimi said the case has been charged to court in line with the Kwara State law prohibiting dealings in human parts.
He attributed the successes to improved intelligence gathering and collaboration with other security agencies, as well as the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
“The Command is not merely reacting to crime but actively preventing and dismantling criminal networks before they become threats to public safety,” he said.
The police Commissioner assured residents that security measures across the state have been strengthened, including increased patrols and surveillance operations, while urging the public to remain vigilant and continue to support security agencies with timely information.
“Security is a collective responsibility. With the cooperation of residents, we will sustain peace, safety and public confidence across Kwara State,” he added. (vitalnewsngr.com)
