By Ola Taiwo
Police in Kwara State have foiled an alleged attempt to procure an AK-47 rifle for a kidnapping gang.
This the police did with the arrest of a suspect who reportedly paid N1.6 million for the weapon in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.
A statement by the spokesperson of the state police command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said intelligence was received by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Section on August 3, 2026 about an alleged negotiation between Sanda Aliyu and one Aliyu Mohammed, who is currently at large, for the purchase of the firearm.
The statement said detectives moved swiftly on the intelligence and arrested Aliyu before the weapon could be delivered.
The police said the suspect, during interrogation, voluntarily admitted his involvement in the transaction and disclosed that N1.6 million had already been paid towards the purchase of the AK-47.
The Command said the suspect also diaclosed that he intended to use the firearm to rise to the position of a “Boss” within his alleged kidnapping gang before breaking away to establish and lead his own criminal group.
It said Investigative verification of the transaction has provided further leads into the circumstances surrounding the attempted acquisition.
The police said that the investigation was being expanded to identify other individuals linked to the suspected arms transaction, determine the full extent of the network and uncover other criminal activities allegedly associated with the gang.
The Command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend Mohammed, who was identified as the alleged arms supplier.
The statement said the state commissioner of police, Adekimi Ojo, assured residents that the police would continue to deploy intelligence-led operations and other lawful resources to protect communities and ensure that residents can “sleep with both eyes closed.”
