Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Kwara State have arrested two suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate and recovered sophisticated weapons and ammunition during an intelligence-led operation in Ilorin.
The suspects, identified as Adamu Ibrahim, 30, and Sani Musa, 29, were apprehended by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team attached to the state police command following what authorities described as credible intelligence and sustained surveillance.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the suspects were arrested on May 5 at about 7:30pm within the Ilorin metropolis.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Adekimi Ojo, said preliminary findings revealed that the suspects allegedly attempted to evade security detection by transferring their weapons to a female accomplice for onward movement to a planned operational base.
He explained that the suspects later guided operatives to a hideout where arms and ammunition were recovered.
Items recovered during the operation included three AK-47 rifles, five AK-47 magazines and 143 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
The police commissioner further disclosed that investigations showed the suspects and other fleeing members of the gang were allegedly planning a coordinated attack before the operation was disrupted through timely intelligence gathering.
According to him, members of the syndicate were reportedly moving in small groups towards a designated meeting point when security operatives intercepted the plan.
Ojo added that the arrested suspects confessed to being members of a kidnapping network operating within and around Kwara State.
He assured residents that efforts were ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the gang, stressing that those in custody would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.
