From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Kwara State Police Command, has foiled an alleged kidnapping and extortion plot in Okuta, Baruten Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of two nationals of the Republic of Togo, who allegedly threatened to abduct a resident unless he paid a ransom of N22 million.
The suspects, identified as Yakubu Ismaila and Hadiza Kosia, were apprehended after a resident, S. Ismaila, reported to the Okuta Police Division that he had received repeated anonymous telephone calls demanding N22 million to stop a planned abduction.
According to the police, the caller also threatened to kidnap the complainant and kill his younger brother, Musa Ismaila, if the money was not paid.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the report prompted an intelligence-led operation involving operatives of the command and the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), supported by technical surveillance, which led to the arrest of the two suspects.
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She disclosed that preliminary investigations linked the suspects to the alleged criminal conspiracy, adding that both allegedly confessed to their roles during interrogation.
Ejire-Adeyemi said a mobile phone allegedly used to make the threatening calls was recovered from one of the suspects and has been retained as evidence.
Reacting to the operation, the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Ojo Adekimi, praised the officers for their swift response and professionalism, noting that their timely intervention prevented what could have escalated into a major security incident.
“The Command remains committed to intelligence-led policing and the relentless pursuit of criminal elements operating within or attempting to infiltrate Kwara State,” the police commissioner said.
He added that investigations had been intensified to identify and arrest other members of the suspected criminal network for prosecution.
The command also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation is vital to sustaining peace and security across the state.
