The Kwara State Police Command has released 48 men arrested along the Alade–Oreke axis in Ifelodun Local Government Area after investigators found no link between them and any criminal activity.
The suspects, who were riding in clusters on 14 motorcycles, were intercepted on September 4 by a combined team of police operatives and vigilantes working with the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Monday. She explained that the men were arrested based on intelligence received from the Divisional Police Officer in Oke-Ode.
“During the operation, a total of 43 mobile phones and other personal belongings were recovered. The individuals were thereafter subjected to comprehensive criminal intelligence analysis and profiling,” she said.
Ejire-Adeyemi added that their mobile devices were also examined through digital forensic methods, which included “call record extraction, communication trails, transaction history, and geo-location mapping.”
Following days of investigation, no evidence was found linking the men to kidnapping, banditry, or other organized crimes.
“All forty-eight individuals have been duly released this morning, having been cleared of any suspicion,” the spokesperson confirmed.
She emphasized that the operation was carried out with respect for human rights. “The police acted swiftly on intelligence while ensuring that innocent citizens were not unjustly criminalized. This underscores our commitment to safeguarding communities without compromising investigative protocols,” Ejire-Adeyemi said.
The police command also urged residents of Kwara to remain calm and continue sharing credible intelligence with security agencies to aid the fight against crime.