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The Kwara State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate allegedly linked to abductions in Oloru, Alapa and Malete communities, following a joint operation involving police operatives and forest guards.
One of the suspects, identified as Aliyu Isiaka, was arrested at Okolowo, Ilorin, on October 24, 2026, while allegedly disguising himself in female attire and wearing a hijab.
The suspect was reportedly intercepted at about 6pm by forest guards led by Jebrin Adam. He was allegedly found in possession of a polythene bag containing assorted charms.
According to the police, Isiaka confessed during interrogation to being a member of a nine-man kidnapping syndicate allegedly led by one Juli, said to be from Fulani Camp, Ga’a-Kpapa, in Moro Local Government Area. The alleged gang leader is still at large.
The suspect reportedly told investigators that he joined the gang in August 2026 and participated in three kidnapping operations in Oloru, Alapa and Malete, where the gang allegedly collected substantial ransom payments.
Acting on information obtained during the investigation, a joint team of police operatives and forest guards launched a targeted operation at the suspected kidnappers’ camp on October 25, leading to the arrest of two additional suspects, identified as Seriki and Jebrin.
The three suspects are undergoing further investigation and are expected to be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the investigation, the police said.
The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, CP Ojo Adekimi, described the operation as a significant step towards dismantling kidnapping networks and restoring lasting security to vulnerable communities across the state.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the command would sustain intelligence-led operations and strengthen collaboration with other security agencies to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Adekimi reaffirmed the command’s commitment to implementing the operational directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, adding that security operatives would intensify efforts to track down criminal elements threatening peace and safety in the state.
The police urged residents and other stakeholders to continue cooperating with security agencies by providing credible information to support ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks across Kwara State.
