The Kwara State Police Command has announced the arrest of 29 suspected kidnappers, cultists, armed robbery suspects and alleged cattle rustlers in a series of intelligence-led operations across the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ojo Adekimi, announced this during a press conference in Ilorin on Friday.
Adekimi said the successes underscore its renewed offensive against violent crime and organised criminal networks.
He told journalists that the operations were carried out in line with the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and reflected the command’s commitment to proactive policing, community partnership and intelligence gathering.
“I am pleased to brief you today on some of the notable operational successes recently recorded by the Command.
“These achievements reflect the commitment, professionalism, and resilience of our officers and men, as well as the invaluable support and cooperation of the good people of Kwara State,” Adekimi said.
Among the major breakthroughs was the arrest of three teenage suspects, Ali Umaru, 16, Alhaji Modu, 17, and Abacha Babagana, 14, who were intercepted during a stop-and-search operation along the Oko-Olowo/Alapa road on July 20 while conveying cartons of mobile phones, power banks, expensive handsets, wristwatches and other electronic gadgets.
The police said the suspects could not provide receipts, waybills or any credible explanation regarding the ownership of the recovered items, leading to their prosecution for possession of property reasonably suspected to have been stolen.
They have been remanded at a juvenile correctional centre pending further proceedings.
The commissioner also disclosed that operatives successfully rescued a 26-year-old kidnapping victim, Miss Shekinat Mukaila, who was abducted at Wande Community in Ora Kingdom on July 15.
During the attack, her father, the Baale of the community, sustained gunshot injuries while trying to resist the kidnappers but has since been treated and discharged from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.
According to the police, investigations led to the arrest of Aliyu Mohammed, who allegedly facilitated the kidnapping, while intelligence gathered from intercepted ransom negotiations enabled security operatives to rescue the victim unhurt.
Efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the gang.
In another operation, detectives arrested Haruna Rabiu, 30, alleged to be a member of a notorious kidnapping syndicate operating around the forests bordering Landaji and Ndeji in Patigi Local Government Area.
The suspect was reportedly apprehended while monitoring the area in preparation for criminal activities and is believed to have links with the notorious Auta Ilorin kidnapping network.
Three mobile phones recovered from him are undergoing forensic examination.
The command also announced the arrest of six suspects over the disappearance and killing of 29-year-old Sulaiman Riliwan, who went missing after leaving his residence in Offa on July 26.
Police investigations identified Mohammed Jamiu, who had a business relationship with the deceased, as the last person to see him alive.
The suspect allegedly confessed to the crime and led detectives to an abandoned well where the victim’s body was recovered.
Five additional suspects were subsequently arrested, while police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend another fleeing suspect and recover the firearm allegedly used in the crime.
The anti-cultism campaign of the command also recorded significant breakthroughs with the arrest of Oluwafemi Bukoye, Isreal Ogungbile and Adesoye Abdulwarith, popularly known as “Wadolee.”
Police said the suspects admitted belonging to the Buccaneer Confraternity and provided investigators with information linking the group to recent cult clashes and retaliatory killings within Ilorin metropolis.
Follow-up operations are ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate.
Similarly, detectives investigating Dayo Sesan, who was handed over by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, recovered two locally made pistols and a live cartridge.
The suspect was alleged to be an Aiye cult member involved in supplying locally fabricated firearms to cult groups for violent attacks.
In another homicide investigation transferred from the NSCDC, police arrested Soliu Mojeeb Olarewaju, who allegedly confessed to kidnapping and killing a 55-year-old man before demanding ransom from the victim’s family.
Detectives recovered the victim’s motorcycle and later exhumed his remains after obtaining a court order.
The case has been forwarded to the Kwara State Ministry of Justice for prosecution.
The command also announced the arrest of Mohammad Sanni and Bello Sanni after two cattle allegedly stolen during a 2025 bandit attack on a Fulani settlement in Share were recovered in their possession at the Share Junction Kara Market.
Investigations are continuing to dismantle the wider cattle rustling network.
In Patigi, four suspects identified as Ahmed Alhaji Ahmadu, Abubakar Mohammed, Mustapha Mohammed and Mohammed Tsado were arrested and arraigned for the alleged murder of a herder, Mohammadu A, whose body was found with multiple machete wounds after his motorcycle and N500,000 were reportedly stolen.
The police also arrested Ismail Abdulmalik during a patrol in the Sawmill area of Ilorin after recovering a locally made pistol from him.
Investigators alleged that the suspect is linked to the Aiye Confraternity and has provided useful intelligence on the movement of illegal firearms among cult groups.
In Kaiama, detectives arrested Sadiat Yunusa over the alleged killing of three-year-old Ummaiyat Y.
Police said the suspect confessed to strangling the child, claiming she acted out of resentment and jealousy arising from family disputes involving her husband. She has been charged to court.
Adekimi commended officers of the command for their professionalism and thanked residents for providing credible intelligence that aided the operations.
“The successes highlighted today are a clear demonstration of the Kwara State Police Command’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property through intelligence-led policing, proactive crime prevention, and sustained tactical operations,” he said.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue reporting suspicious movements and activities, assuring that all information supplied to the police would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
“Security remains a shared responsibility.
“”Together, we will continue to preserve the peace, security, and public confidence that Kwara State is known for,” the commissioner added. (vitalnewsngr.com)
