Kwara Police arrest 16 suspects, recover arms, neutralize bandit in rescue operation

Crime Diary

ILORIN, Nigeria (NPA) — The Kwara State Police Command has arrested 16 suspects and recovered 98 rounds of ammunition, firearms, and a vehicle during a statewide crackdown on kidnapping and violent crimes in April.

In a statement issued today, the command said the operations targeted criminal networks involved in kidnapping, armed robbery and banditry across the state.

The exhibits recovered during the operations included 20 assault rounds and 78 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, additional live AK-47 ammunition, several locally fabricated firearms, including a shotgun, cut-to-size shotgun, pistol and revolver rifle, as well as a Toyota Matrix vehicle and mobile communication devices.

The command also disclosed that operatives neutralized a suspected bandit during a rescue operation at Apata Aje settlement following the abduction of two persons.

According to the statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, armed men invaded the community on April 28, 2026, at about 11:00 p.m. and abducted two victims before security operatives launched a coordinated search-and-rescue mission.

A combined team of operatives and National Forest Guards engaged the fleeing suspects during an intensive bush-combing exercise after acting on credible intelligence. “During the ensuing gun duel, one suspected bandit was neutralized, while others escaped with gunshot injuries,” the statement said.

Additional items recovered from the scene and related operations included live cartridges, expended ammunition, mobile phones, including a Samsung A2S device, and suspected criminal charms.

The command said the recoveries further revealed the organized and heavily armed nature of the criminal network operating within the area, noting that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted victims and arrest the fleeing suspects.

The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Ojo Adekimi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal syndicates and sustaining pressure on kidnapping and banditry networks across the state.