The Kwara State Police Command has arrested five kidnappers in a forest in the state.
The police, in a statement, said that it intensified its crackdown on kidnapping and violent crimes with the arrest of five suspected kidnappers linked to recent attacks in parts of the state.
According to the statement by the state Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, made available to the press in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Tuesday, the suspects were arrested in a coordinated security operation.
“The suspects were apprehended during a coordinated security operation carried out on April 23, 2026, at Oke-Iya Community by operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Team, working alongside local vigilantes and forest guards.
“The operation followed credible intelligence on criminal activities in the area. Three of the suspects — Idris Umar, Muhammed Usman, and Abdullahi Abubakar — were directly linked to the invasion of Idiya community, where five residents were abducted.
“Acting on credible intelligence, our operatives, in collaboration with vigilantes and forest guards, carried out a coordinated operation which led to the arrest of three suspects connected to the recent kidnapping incident in Idiya community,” the statement said.
The police spokesperson disclosed that “ongoing investigations led to further breakthroughs, including the arrest of two additional suspects identified as Mohammad Awal and Sani Mallam Musa.”
She added that two of the kidnapped victims had earlier escaped from captivity, providing useful information that aided the investigation.
“Items recovered from the suspects include a locally fabricated revolver rifle modified to fire AK-47 ammunition, as well as eight rounds of live ammunition.”
Ejire-Adeyemi assured residents that efforts are ongoing to dismantle kidnapping networks across the state, noting that the suspects will be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations.
“Investigation is ongoing, and all suspects will be charged in court accordingly.
“The latest arrests come amid heightened security operations by the command to curb rising cases of abduction and ensure the safety of residents across Kwara State,” the statement said.
