Kwara State Police Command has recorded what it described as a major operational breakthrough following the arrest of two suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate and the recovery of firearms and ammunition within Ilorin metropolis.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi.
According to the statement, the operation was carried out on May 5 at about 7:30 pm when operatives of the Intelligence Response Team successfully tracked and apprehended the two suspects within Ilorin.
Police preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly attempted to evade security surveillance by handing over their weapons to a female accomplice for onward transportation to a designated operational location where planned criminal activities were expected to take place.
During interrogation, the suspects reportedly led security operatives to a hideout where a cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered.
Items recovered during the operation included three AK-47 rifles, five AK-47 magazines, and 143 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
Further investigation by the police revealed that the suspects, alongside other fleeing members of the syndicate, were allegedly planning a coordinated attack.
According to the command, members of the criminal network had reportedly been moving in smaller groups toward a convergence point before the planned operation was disrupted through timely intelligence-led policing.
“The suspects reportedly confessed to being members of a kidnapping syndicate currently operating within and around the state.
“They are presently in police custody and assisting investigators with useful information aimed at apprehending other members of the criminal network and preventing further criminal activities,” the statement partly read.
The police command added that investigations are ongoing to track down other fleeing suspects connected to the syndicate.
It also confirmed that the arrested suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
