Kwara Police recovers weapons, stolen goods in State wide criminal gangs bust

The Kwara State Police Command has renewed its crackdown on violent crimes and criminal networks across the state, resulting in the arrests of several suspects involved in murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and burglary.

Speaking to newsmen at a press briefing at the command Headquarters, Ahmadu Bello way Ilorin, at the weekend, Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, stated that the operations are a reflection of the Command’s renewed commitment to public safety, in line with the Inspector General of Police’s vision for intelligence-led and community-oriented policing.

According to CP Adekimi Ojo, “We will not relent in our efforts to rid Kwara State of criminals. Our officers remain committed to pursuing justice with diligence and integrity,”

The CP reeled out several crimes that had been successfully solved by men of the command. One these is the discovery of a murdered farm labourer in Baruten Local Government. According to CP Ojo, One Halidu Yakubu, a resident of Taberu Village, reported the disappearance of a worker named Gunu. His decomposing body was later found buried on a farmland belonging to a Haruna Umar, who, along with one Aminu Gona, has confessed to the crime. A third suspect in the crime, known simply as “Focuse,” remains at large.

In another tragic incident, a two-month-old baby, Adam Tahiru, was declared missing in Ilorin and was later found dead in a well. Eight suspects have been arrested and are under intense interrogation as the police continue to piece together the circumstances of the heartbreaking homicide.

The Commissioner also disclosed the arrest of a suspected kidnap kingpin, Yakubu Garba, in Ajase-Ipo. The notorious fugitive was apprehended by the Anti-Kidnapping Squad with an AK-47 rifle and five live rounds of ammunition in his possession. “This marks a major success in our fight against kidnapping in Kwara,” the Commissioner stated.

He went on to declare that “The Command is also investigating the diversion of N8 million worth of cement meant for delivery in Ilorin. The suspect, one Bashiru Suleiman, allegedly impersonated a client and coordinated the fraudulent operation that led to the disappearance of a BUA Cement truck.

The truck was later recovered, but the cement had already been offloaded. He disclosed that efforts to arrest the driver and his assistant are ongoing, although the certainty of their being alive is doubtful as both of them have their phones dead.

In another successful break, a group of suspects were intercepted in Kaiama by local vigilantes and found in possession of a locally made pistol, three dynamite explosives, and a paramilitary-style jacket.

The suspects are now in the custody of the Intelligence Response Team in Abuja, where investigators are probing potential links to larger terror or kidnapping cells.”

There was also a mention of the violent attack on the farmland of one Alhaji Kazeem in Oreke, where he was shot dead while his two sons were kidnapped.

Five suspects have since been arrested in connection to the Oreke incident and efforts to rescue the victims and dismantle the kidnap syndicate are in full swing, the CP disclosed.

“The police also apprehended a suspect, Habeeb Alhaji Sheu, in connection with the burglary of a house in Ilorin, recovering sixteen mattresses believed to be stolen, six of which have been affirmatively confirmed by the victim.

Meanwhile, four suspects — Danjuma Abubakar, Alkassim Abubakar, Mohammed Ibrahim, and Mohammed Awal — were arrested during and shortly after a robbery incident at a residence in Tanke, Ilorin. Items recovered included a motorcycle used for escape, electrical cables, weapons and industrial gas cylinders.

“We urge the public to remain vigilant and continue to assist the police with useful information. Together, we can secure our communities,” CP Ojo appealed.

The Commissioner stated that all the arrested suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.