- Safiu Kehinde
No fewer than three members of a kidnapping syndicate, including a self-acclaimed doctor, have been nabbed by operatives attached to the Kwara State Police Command in weeklong operations across the state.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on the state government’s official X handle on Monday
According to statement, the police had in a coordinated security operation arrested an arms courier last week Friday along Gbugu/Patogo road.
Shortly after the arrest which led to the recovery of 100 rounds of live ammunition, another member of the kidnapping syndicate was also arrested in Oro-Ago in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect identified as Aliu Abubakar was apprehended at Oro-Ago Motor Park.
This is coming hours after the arrest of a medical doctor by the Department of State Service (DSS) supplying medication and drugs to kidnapping gangs in Kwara.
The suspect, according to the police initially claimed he was en route to meet one Zarumi, purportedly his uncle, but his behaviour aroused suspicion
Further investigation however uncovered incriminating digital evidence showing the suspect brandishing an AK-47 rifle, alongside images of his allies identified as Buba, Auta, and Bello ‘Smally’ all posing with the same prohibited firearms.
Additional images revealed the suspect displaying significant cash, which he voluntarily confessed were proceeds from multiple kidnapping activities conducted by his syndicate.
The suspect is currently in custody, providing valuable intelligence to ongoing counter-kidnapping operations.