The Kwara State Police Command says it has uncovered a series of criminal activities across the state, including the interception of ammunition concealed in a bag of garri, the arrest of suspected cultists, and the detention of a man who allegedly exhumed a relative’s skull for ritual purposes.
The Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, who briefed journalists in Ilorin on Friday, said the operations were achieved through intelligence-led policing and inter-agency collaboration.
According to him, the command will continue to deny criminal elements space to operate in the state.
“These achievements clearly show that criminal elements will find no safe haven in Kwara State, while law-abiding citizens can go about their daily activities without fear,” he said.
Adekimi disclosed that the most notable arrest occurred on April 10 along the Ajase-Ipo axis, where operatives intercepted an unregistered Toyota Previa vehicle coming from Kogi State.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 98 rounds of live ammunition hidden inside a bag of garri.
“The concealment was a deliberate attempt to evade detection and facilitate illegal movement across state lines,” he said, adding that three suspects were linked to the case.
He further revealed that one of the suspects allegedly received N1.3m to procure the ammunition, while efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate.
In a separate operation in Ilorin, police arrested two suspected cultists, Lukman Abdul-Salam, popularly known as “Ijaya,” and Aliu Ismaila, also called “Gambia,” over an alleged shop-breaking incident in the Odota area.
Items reportedly stolen, valued at about N2.5m, were said to have been recovered in part. Although the suspects denied involvement in the theft, they admitted belonging to the Eiye confraternity. An empty AK-47 magazine was also recovered from their residence.
In another development, operatives arrested Fabiyi Benson Seyi and Sodiq Rasheed in the Ganmo area following a distress call. A locally made firearm and a live cartridge were recovered from them. The police said the suspects are believed to be members of a cult group linked to criminal activities in the area.
The command also confirmed the arrest of Umaru Aliu during a patrol along the Oroago axis. Items recovered from him included mobile phones, chargers, a POS machine and other personal effects. His inability to give a satisfactory account of his movements, according to the police, raised suspicion of possible involvement in kidnapping-related activities.
Adekimi further disclosed that Hamza Woru was arrested in Kaiama for allegedly being in possession of a human skull.
Investigations, he said, showed that the suspect exhumed the remains of a deceased relative for ritual purposes and attempted to sell the skull before being apprehended, while an accomplice remains at large.
“The suspect attempted to sell the human skull before he was apprehended, while his accomplice is still at large,” the commissioner said.
He added that the case had been charged to court under the state law prohibiting dealings in human parts.
Reaffirming the command’s commitment to public safety, Adekimi said the police were intensifying efforts not only to respond to crime but also to dismantle criminal networks across Kwara.
He urged residents to support security agencies with credible information, stressing that safety remains a collective responsibility.
