Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Kwara State have arrested two suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate and recovered firearms and ammunition during a security operation in Ilorin, the state capital.
The suspects, identified as Adamu Ibrahim, 30, and Sani Musa, 29, were apprehended following what police described as an intelligence-led operation conducted by the Intelligence Response Team attached to the Kwara State Police Command.
The state Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, disclosed this in a statement released on Saturday through the command’s spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi.
According to the statement, the suspects were arrested on May 5 at about 7:30 p.m. within the Ilorin metropolis after security operatives acted on credible intelligence and sustained surveillance.
“Operatives of the Intelligence Response Team, acting on credible intelligence and sustained surveillance, successfully trailed and apprehended the two suspects within Ilorin metropolis,” Ojo said.
Police investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly attempted to avoid detection by handing over their weapons to a female accomplice for transportation to a designated location where planned criminal activities were expected to take place.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects, as part of efforts to evade security detection, had allegedly handed over their weapons to a female accomplice for onward movement to an agreed operational location where planned criminal activities were to be executed,” the police commissioner stated.
The command added that the suspects later guided operatives to a hideout where arms and ammunition were recovered.
Recovered items included three AK-47 rifles, five AK-47 magazines, and 143 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
Providing further details, Ojo said intelligence gathered during the investigation indicated that the suspects and other fleeing members of the gang were allegedly planning a coordinated operation before security personnel foiled the move.
“Further investigation disclosed that the suspects and other fleeing members of the syndicate were allegedly planning a coordinated attack, with members moving in small groups toward a designated convergence point before the operation was foiled through timely intelligence-led policing,” he said.
The commissioner also disclosed that the suspects confessed to being members of a kidnapping syndicate operating within and around Kwara State.
He assured residents that efforts were ongoing to track down fleeing members of the group and reiterated the command’s commitment to maintaining security across the state.
“The command remains committed to ensuring the safety of residents, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects. Those arrested will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” Ojo added.
