The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a man suspected of being part of a logistics network that allegedly provides supplies and support to bandits and other criminal groups operating within the state.
The suspect was apprehended in Ilorin, the state capital, during a targeted operation conducted by the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the arrest was made following credible intelligence and extensive covert surveillance carried out by operatives.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Ejire-Adeyemi explained that investigations linked the suspect to the transportation and distribution of materials believed to be intended for criminal elements hiding in forests and remote parts of Kwara State.
She disclosed that officers recovered a large quantity of assorted cigarette brands and other food items believed to be part of a supply chain serving criminal groups.
“Acting on credible intelligence and sustained covert surveillance, operatives of the unit arrested a suspect in Ilorin whose activities are strongly connected to the movement and supply of materials suspected to be destined for criminal elements operating within forested enclaves and remote locations across the state,” she stated.
The police spokesperson further revealed that preliminary findings suggest the suspect played a key support role within a wider network responsible for providing sustenance and other assistance to bandits and allied criminal groups.
Investigators also reportedly discovered photographs on the suspect’s mobile phone showing him dressed in military camouflage and seated on a Bajaj motorcycle, a development police say has strengthened intelligence regarding his alleged connections to criminal networks.
She added that efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest other individuals linked to the operation.
Reacting to the development, Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, assured residents that security agencies were intensifying operations aimed at dismantling not only armed criminal groups but also the support structures that enable their activities.
Ojo emphasized that the command would continue targeting logistics providers, collaborators, informants, and suppliers who facilitate criminal operations across the state.
He vowed that the police would deny criminal groups access to resources, mobility, and support systems necessary for their survival and operations.
The commissioner reiterated the command’s commitment to sustaining pressure on anyone involved in aiding criminal activities, directly or indirectly.
Police authorities noted that the arrest forms part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks and reduce the operational capabilities of bandits and their associates throughout Kwara State.
Residents were encouraged to remain vigilant and promptly share useful information with security agencies to help identify criminal collaborators and prevent attacks.
The command also assured the public that investigations remain ongoing and that anyone found to be connected to the suspected logistics network would face the full weight of the law.
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