Police arrest suspected kidnapper in Kwara, seize two rifles

The Kwara State Police Command has said it arrested a suspected kidnap gang leader and recovered two AK-47 rifles. This happened during an operation in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The operation was carried out by the Violent Crime Response Unit. They worked with officers from the Okuta Divisional Headquarters. They acted on reliable information about criminal activities in the area.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Command’s spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the operation took place on June 1, 2026. It was a routine raid around the Tabida area of Okuta. Several people suspected of being involved in crimes were arrested during this raid.

The statement said, “The Kwara State Police Command, through its Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), has recorded a major operational breakthrough in its ongoing offensive against kidnapping and other violent crimes across the State.”

“On June 1, 2026, operatives attached to Okuta Divisional Headquarters, acting on credible intelligence, apprehended a group of suspicious persons believed to be involved in criminal activities during a routine raid operation within the Tabida area of Okuta, Baruten Local Government Area.”

“Preliminary investigation by the VCRU led to the identification of one Umar Abubakar, alias ‘Manti’, as the leader of a kidnapping syndicate believed to have been responsible for a series of kidnapping incidents and related violent crimes within parts of Kwara North,” SP Ejire-Adeyemi said.

The Command said that further efforts based on intelligence led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles. These rifles had fully loaded magazines and were believed to have been used by the gang in their operations.

“The recovery represents a significant disruption of the group’s operational capability and a major step towards restoring public safety within the affected areas.”

“The suspects are currently in police custody and are providing investigators with useful information that will aid in identifying and apprehending other members of the criminal network,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Adekimi Ojo, praised the VCRU officers and others for their professionalism and coordination in achieving this breakthrough.

The Police boss also assured residents that intelligence-led operations have increased in key areas of the state. They are deploying more resources to ensure the safety of lives and property.

The police confirmed that the suspects will be charged in court once investigations are complete. They will keep working to dismantle the wider criminal network in the region.