Kwara police arrest alleged kidnap kingpin, recover two AK-47 rifles

By Mosunmola Ayobami

Operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Kwara State Police Command have arrested a suspected kidnapping gang leader and recovered two AK-47 rifles in a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against kidnapping and violent crimes across the state.

The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Ilorin by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, who said the arrest followed a routine raid operation conducted in the Tabida area of Okuta, Baruten Local Government Area.

According to the statement, police operatives attached to the Okuta Divisional Headquarters acted on credible intelligence and apprehended a group of suspicious individuals believed to be involved in criminal activities within the area.

Following their arrest, the suspects were transferred to the Violent Crime Response Unit for further investigation and profiling. Preliminary findings reportedly identified one Umar Abubakar, popularly known as “Manti,” as the alleged leader of a kidnapping syndicate operating in parts of Kwara North.

Police said the suspect is believed to have coordinated a series of kidnapping incidents and other violent crimes around Okuta, Ilesha-Baruba, Tabida, Taberu and neighbouring communities, where residents have faced recurring security challenges.

The statement added that further intelligence-led investigations led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles with fully loaded magazines, suspected to have been used by the gang during its operations. The recovery, according to the command, has significantly weakened the group’s operational capacity.

Investigators are currently interrogating the suspects, who are said to be providing useful information that could assist security agencies in identifying and apprehending other members of the criminal network. Efforts are also ongoing to uncover the full scope of the syndicate’s activities.

Addressing operatives, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ojo Adekimi, commended their professionalism and resilience. He also assured residents that intelligence-driven security operations have been intensified across strategic locations in the state and pledged that all suspects will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.