By Stephen Oladele
Security operatives in Kwara State have arrested three suspected kidnapers who are allegedly members of a syndicate kidnapping people in the state.
The state police command said that an intelligent-driven joint operation involving the police and forest guards led to the arrest.
The command in the statement signed by its spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said arrest of one of the three suspcts, Aliyu Isiaka of Gaa Kpapa village in Moro Local Government Area of the state facilitated the arrest of the other two.
The statement explained that Aliyu was arrested on Saturday October 24 by a team of forest guards in Okoolowo area of Ilorin where he disguised in female attire, wearing a hijab and carrying a polythene bag containing assorted charmed
It said during interrogation, Isiaka confessed to being a member of a nine-man kidnapping syndicate allegedly led by one Juli ‘m’, of Fulani Camp, Ga’a-Kpapa, who is currently at large.
The police said the suspect allegedly disclosed that he was recruited into the gang sometime in August 2026 and had actively participated in three kidnapping operations at Oloru, Alapa and Malete, where substantial ransom payments were collected.
The command said following further investigation and operational coordination, a joint team of Police personnel and Forest Guards conducted a targeted operation at the suspected kidnappers’ camp on Sunday October 25.
It said the operation led to the arrest of the two other suspects, Seriki and Jebrin, while disclosing that the three suspects were currently undergoing further investigation and that they would be arraigned in court upon conclusion of the investigation.
The statement said the state Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, described the operation as another significant step towards dismantling kidnapping networks and restoring lasting security across vulnerable communities in the state.
Adekimi, according to the statement, reiterated that, in line with the operational directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the command would sustain intelligence-led operations, strengthen inter-agency collaboration and intensify the pursuit of criminal elements threatening the peace and security of the state.
