Kwara Police Arrest Eight Suspected Kidnappers in Coordinated Operation
The Kwara State Police Command announced on Friday the arrest of eight suspected members of a notorious kidnapping gang during a coordinated operation in the Babanla and Manasara villages near Oke-Ode.
According to Commissioner of Police Victor Olaiye, the arrests were made following credible intelligence received by the Divisional Headquarters in Babanla on August 6, 2024. The information indicated the presence of a notorious kidnapping group in the area. In response, security operatives, working in conjunction with local vigilante groups, executed a swift and coordinated operation.
The suspects identified include Babuga Usman, Yunusa Yakubu, Sani Usman, and Abdullahi Bello. CP Olaiye stated that during interrogation, all four suspects confessed to being part of a kidnapping syndicate. They admitted to participating in multiple kidnapping incidents across several areas, including Lata near Patigi, Omu-Aran, and Akuma along the Egbe axis. The investigation is ongoing, with efforts now focused on capturing the ringleaders and gathering additional evidence.
In a related case, on May 15, 2024, at around 1:00 PM, the Divisional Police Headquarters in Oke-Ode was informed of an armed invasion by suspected kidnappers in Manasara village. The attack resulted in the kidnapping of Fatimah Haruna, Aisha Haruna, Nana Haruna, and Kabiru Mohammed, and the death of Alhaji Isiaka Balogun. Following the report, the police, along with vigilantes and local hunters, launched a search operation.
On July 10, 2024, this coordinated effort led to the arrest of Mohammed Manman, Abubakar Mohammed, Aliyu Abubakar, and Abubakar Abdulkareem in connection with the kidnapping and culpable homicide. The police continue to investigate, aiming to ensure that all aspects of the crimes are thoroughly examined and that justice is served. The suspects are expected to be formally charged once the investigation is concluded.
Additionally, CP Olaiye reported an incident on August 10, 2024, at approximately 5:04 AM, when a resident of Oja-Iya community discovered thieves attempting to cut the armored cable of the community’s IBEDC transformer. The suspect, Idris Hussain, a resident of Ita Amadu area in Ilorin, was apprehended by the community members. A saw blade and the cut transformer cable were recovered from him. Hussain confessed to the crime during preliminary investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as they become available.
